Tejiri Ebikeme/Francis Sadhere
Excepts urgent steps are taken, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) is set to cripple the economic activities in five states of the Federation following it seven days ultimatum to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL).
At a crucial meeting, the Warri zonal Council of NUPENG gave Chevron a seven day notice to recall its 154 members sacked by the company and put a halt to the alleged harassment of its members.
Speaking at the emergency meeting, the Warri Zonal Council Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Cogent Ojobor alleged that in the last count, no fewer than 154 members of NUPENG had been fired by CNL.
He said the seven days warning notice given to Chevron would start counting from Monday 30th June 2014 and upon its expiration midnight of July 6th, if nothing was done the union would proceed on strike and it will affect Delta, Edo, Ondo, Kogi and Ekiti states.
Comrade Ojobor said activities in the Warri Refinery, filling stations, loading depots, PTI, and all other oil facilities in the affected states will be shut down after the expiration of the seven days notice, adding that there will be no going back until their demands were met by Chevron.
The NUPENG boss, who claimed that the union had exhausted all avenues of negotiation with Chevron said; “We have had several meetings with Chevron. We have been meeting at Federal Ministry of Labour, we have tried informal consultations but their statement, which I know is a lie, is that they have been told by NAPIMS and Ministry of Labour to downsize.”
“The Company is treating our members like slaves and at the last count they have already laid off 154 of our members in Chevron and the number is growing. They said they are downsizing and I do not know at what size they will reach before they will stop. It may interest you to know that one oil and gas worker supports up to seven families,” he added.
According to him; “I know that a staunch and active member of NUPENG, Comrade Thomas Megbelaje, Comrade Odu Richmond, Comrade Blessing Lori, Comrade Samuel Asin and others have been dropped because of their believe in NUPENG.”
