Guardian NUPENG begins strike over alleged anti-labour policies SUNDAY, 30 JUNE 2013 20:28 FROM ISA ABDULSALAMI AHOVI (JOS), YETUNDE EBOSELE, BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA (LAGOS) AND ALEMMA OZIORUVA, (BENIN-CITY) NEWS - NATIONAL • Poly teachers insist on action • Group seeks end to Edo teachers’ boycott THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), at the weekend announced plans to begin a three-day warning strike today over alleged unfair labour practices by oil multinationals such as Chevron, Shell and Agip. Meanwhile, the end may not yet be in sight for the strike embarked by polytechnic teachers as they yesterday vowed to continue the action until their demands are met. Also, piqued by the protracted strike embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), a non governmental organisation, One Love Foundation International, Sunday appealed to the striking teachers in Edo State to return to the classroom in the interest of the pupils in the state. According to NUPENG, the strike is also to protest the alleged refusal of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to implement the signed collective bargaining agreement with the petroleum tanker drivers and the “sorry state of our roads across the nation”. While appealing to Nigerians for understanding, the union said the oil multinationals have failed to implement the agreement after the meeting brokered by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu. A statement issued by NUPENG General Secretary, Issac Aberare, explained that the union’s call for a stakeholders’ meeting in the oil and gas sector to address the situation had also been ignored. Already, NUPENG said it has directed all its members in the depots to stop loading petroleum products for the next three days, adding that members in all the branches in the country are to follow suit. The union stressed that if after the three-day warning strike, nothing was done to address the situation, it will be “forced to embark on an indefinite strike nationwide”. Making reference to the non-recognition of the union and stoppage of union dues, recently by Chevron, NUPENG explained that the oil firm and the contractors have not shown any commitment to address the issue after the two weeks ultimatum. The union also states that Chevron and SPDC agreed at a recent meeting to convey a contractor’s forum within two weeks, pointing out that the issue had not been addressed. A statement issued by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at the end of its 74th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, which was obtained yesterday by The Guardian, decried lack of commitment by government towards the resolution of the industrial impasse that led to the strike. The statement, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of ASUP, Clement Chirman, read in part: “NEC expresses concern over the nonchalant attitude of government towards exercising the political will to meet the demands of the union which led to the on-going nation-wide strike. NEC resolves further that unless all the issues on the list of the unions’ demands are met, the ongoing strike will be sustained.” While ASUP expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by students, parents and guardians over the on-going strike by the union, it however, called on other stakeholders to show similar understanding and work with the union towards strengthening the polytechnic sector in Nigeria. The Executive Director of the body, Patrick Eholor also urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to as a labour leader meet with the teachers to find a way forward. “I to want say that I don’t blame the teachers for taking such actions, they have a right to go on strike if they feel the government is not yielding to their needs and aspirations over the 27 per cent demand. But more important to the pupils is a conducive environment and with learning materials, but all you hear is 27 per cent allowance, even at that they have reached an agreement with the state government over that and I think they should give the government time to do what is right”, he added. A statement by the NAPS’s national president, Ogbonnaya Sunday made available to journalists in Benin- City yesterday said the students would soon mobilise for a protest in Abuja, since according to him, the Federal Government has been working as if all is well in spite of the two months old strike.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 07:32:20 +0000
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