Fuel Scarcity Averted As NUPENG Calls Off Strike

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, on Wednesday suspended the two-day old strike it embarked upon in solidarity with its members working in multinational oil corporation, Shell.

The suspension of the industrial action was made public in a statement issued by Levi Ajuonuma, spokesperson for Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, this afternoon.

Members of NUPENG, Shell Nigeria branch, have been having a running battle with the management of the firm over the suspension of Fidelis Okandeji, a chairman of one of the chapters of the union in the multinational company.

The National body of NUPENG on Tuesday declared a nationwide strike over what it calls intimidation of its members working in Shell.

Reports indicated that as a result of the national strike, petroleum tanker drivers, most of whom are members of NUPENG, had since yesterday stopped lifting petroleum products at depots across the country.

This has fuelled the fear of another long drawn debilitating fuel scarcity in a country still reeling from the effects of a six-day national strike.

Queues were already building up at petrol stations in Abuja and Lagos today as anxious motorists tried to stock up on fuel before the effect of the strike bites harder.

However, a prolonged deliberation at the NNPC Towers, Abuja led by Engr. Austen Oniwon, Group Managing Director of NNPC, resulted in the signing of a joint communiqué by representatives of Shell and the national leadership of NUPENG in which the union agreed to call off the strike.

The communiqué reads as follows: “After exhaustive deliberations on the issues raised by NUPENG on the current strike action, Shell Management and NUPENG National resolved as follows:

“ Both parties agreed that the pending court case instituted by Fidelis Okandeji be withdrawn.

“NUPENG National commits to reintegration of Shell Branch of NUPENG and the affected officials of the branch.

“Both parties also agreed to work towards the amicable settlement of the issues in dispute within one week from Sunday, 5th February 2012.

“Both parties shall meet in Port Harcourt from Monday, 6 February 2012.

“ Shell Branch of NUPENG shall suspend its 2012 negotiation from 5th-12th February 2012 to enable the mediation process conclude on the issues raised at the intervention meeting with the GMD.

“Based on the foregoing, NUPENG hereby suspends all going industrial actions”.

The communiqué was signed by C.I. Gbandi, General Manager, Human Resources on behalf of Shell Management while Comrade Igwe Achese, National President of NUPENG and I.O. Aberare Deputy General Secretary signed on behalf of NUPENG.

Chris Osarumwense, Group General Manager, Group Human Resources of NNPC signed on behalf of the corporation.