FG to Meet with NUPENG Over Strike

• FG to Meet with NUPENG Over Strike

The Federal Government says it will meet with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Work, (NUPENG) on Tuesday toward apprehending the ongoing industrial action embarked by the union.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press, in the ministry on Monday in Abuja.

Ngige said that the crucial conciliatory meeting with be with the president and the executive of NUPENG in his office by 11:30a.m.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NUPENG is currently an affiliate under the United Labour Congress (ULC).

Other unions under the ULC includes Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), National Electricity Employees Union (NUEE); National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), telecommunication unions and Aviation unions.

It would also be recalled the ULC had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government which expired on Sept. 8 over 12-point demands.

ULC is pressing for the following demands that the Ministry of Labour and Employment should set up a task force immediately to carry out factory inspections and review the privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Others are: that the Army and Police should leave their different work places as they were intimidating and harassing workers in such establishments.

The union want the ministry to immediately release its registration certificate, non inclusion in the minimum wage committee, among others.

The union also issued another seven-day strike notice that will expire on Sept. 15 with a threat to shut down oil, power and aviation sectors.

NAN recalls that Ngige had said that the Federal Government had not recognised the ULC as a federation of trade unions.

Ngige described the planned industrial action as illegitimate.