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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Refineries: PENGASSAN, NUPENG mobilise for strikeWALE IGBINTADEAHEAD of their planned July 26 strike over the bad state of the refineries, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have embarked on mobilisation drive for the action. The DAILY TIMES gathered that all branch chairmen and secretaries of the two unions have been directed to follow a series of actions that would culminate in full blown strike from July 5. A circular with reference number HO/NUP.PENG./01.2004 signed by general secretaries of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, Mr. Elijah Okougbo and Mr. Mojisayo Fadakinte, directed all branch chairmen/secretaries to be prepared for the action. According to the circular, next Monday, all oil and gas workers should begin to wear rags to their places of work, while from July 12 they are to observe two hours prayer between 8 and 10 a.m., daily. However, from July 19, the prayer session would be extended from 8 a.m., to noon while from July 26, the actual strike would begin as planned. Furthermore, all tanker drivers have been directed to display green leaves on their vehicles from July 5 to shore up support for the strike. According to the circular, all relevant offices, filling stations, depots, oil rigs, flow stations and terminals should observe the strike and the management of the oil and gas industry advised to cooperate with the workers throughout the period, as the action was not directed against their vested interest. Last week at the end of the joint emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of NUPENG and PENGASSAN in Benin, Edo State, the unions lamented government�s lack of will to address the full rehabilitation of the nation�s refineries and gave it till then to act or face workers� strike. The NEC-in-session also gave a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government for refineries to be functioning at optimal capacity during which time the unions would embark on a series of actions that would lead into full blown strike. NUPENG argued that fuel price instability would continue until the nation�s refineries were able to produce fuel locally.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004 |
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