- Issues 48 hours ultimatum
- Says indefinite strike looms
BY CHINYERE OBIORA – The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a 48- hour ultimatum to the management of Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) to rescind its sack order on over 175 causal workers or face an indefinite strike.
The Port Harcourt Zone of NUPENG said failure to recall the sacked workers will result in the stoppage of operations by all tanker drivers, petrol station workers and other auxiliary staff in the petroleum industry.
Threatening that there is no going back on the decision to commence the industrial action if their demands are not met, the Union’s Zonal Chairman, Comrade Mina Samuel, described the PHRC’s action as ‘insensitive’ and ‘callous’.
He said in Port Harcourt on Thursday that it is unfortunate the PHRC’s management chose a period when others are protecting the rights of workers across the world to sack its employees.
The Union Chairman said it is unthinkable for workers to suffer such ill-treatment while struggling to survive the COVID-19 lockdown, warning that; “The Port Harcourt Zone of NUPENG may be forced to come out of its shell as a result of PHRC management action, to withdraw the supply of petroleum products within Port Harcourt Zone if the PHRC fails to reverse its decision with immediate effect.”
According lo him, “Consequently, the Port Harcourt Zonal Council of NUPENG is by this notice giving PHRC management 72 hours from today, the 2nd of April 2020, to direct its contractors to withdraw all termination letters issued to all NUPENG members in their employment. Hence, we advise that Port Harcourt Refinery management engage the union once normalcy returns to the state if need be.
“The management’s action or inaction may leave the union with the option of calling out all NUPENG members within Port Harcourt Zone, including petrol tanker drivers and petrol station workers, who are currently taking the risk of rendering essential services to the nation, to halt supply of petroleum product and give solidarity to the affected workers.”
Lending his voice to the Union’s demands, National Treasurer of NUPENG, Mr. Alex Agwangwor, urged the PHRC management shun actions that could easily create economic crisis in Rivers State and the Country at large given the huge health and economic pressure over the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The union wants to use this medium to call on the Federal and Rivers State Governments, all stakeholders, relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies, who are working tirelessly at this critical time within the zone to caution the PHRC management.
“This is necessary to avoid a total shutdown of the supply of petroleum products in Rivers State and its environs, which may inadvertently worsen the precarious situation”, he said.
Calling for understanding from members of the public over their imminent showdown with PHRC, Agwangwor said; “In the same vein, we want to apologise to the general public in advance for any inconvenience this may cause should the PHRC refuse to bulge and allow wise counsel prevail at this point where all hands are on deck to tackle the dangerous coronavirus.”
