Nigeria oil workers to commence strike January 9

                                  

Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, would begin a three-day nationwide warning strike by January 9, 2017, against what they termed the anti-labour practice of International Oil Companies (IOCs).

The south-west chairman of the union, Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the warning strike was inevitable because all other options had failed.

According to Mr. Korodo, “We are not gaining anything by going on strike because it is not a joyful thing but as a union, we have to protect and fight for the welfare of our members.

“We have sensitised the public and also seek the intervention of the Federal Government over the anti-labour activities of the IOCs on our members but we are not getting results.

“Our members that put in their best within the duration of time they worked were not paid their severance packages by their employers when they sacked them.

“This is a big slap and it will not be allowed.

“What they are practising here in Nigeria, they cannot practise in their countries, so that is why we say enough is enough.

“We will take the bull by the horn,” he said.

The chairman said that what led to the planned warning strike was inherited by the present administration, while some occurred during the same government.

“Two hundred and fifty members of our union were affected by the divestment by Chevron Nigeria Ltd., in the South-East.

“And this is giving us a serious concern because they cannot feed their families.