25th November, 2021
By Esenvosa Izah/Lagos
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has extended the 14-day ultimatum earlier given to the Federal Government by seven days.
The ultimatum initially given on 15 November, will now expire early December when Nigerians are making preparations for the Yuletide.
NUPENG General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, had issued the first 14-day ultimatum, threatening to call members out on nationwide strike because of the non-implementation of an agreement earlier reached with government.
The union is complaining about the non-payment of workers’ salaries and title benefits, among others.
Olawale said that in spite of the various interventions and engagements with government agencies and institutions, issues concerning welfare of members and unfair labour practices by some oil majors had yet to be fully resolved.
“Leadership of the union is still exercising further patience and restraint to give the on-going discussions the chances of resolving these issues once and for all.
“The decision of the union to give another seven-day ultimatum should not be misconstrued as a sign of capitulation or weakness.
“Rather, it is a demonstration of our resolve not to inflict unnecessary pains on Nigerians or create any form of artificial scarcity of petroleum products,” he said.
The NUPENG general secretary urged the government and all other concerned entities to take advantage of the extension to do the needful.
“It is our hope that government does the needful and save the nation the pains and losses our industrial action will bring,” he said.