Oil workers begin 3-day warning strike over insecuritys

NATIONAL Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, today, begin a three-day warning strike over growing insecurity in the Niger Delta region and the country in general.

Leaders of the unions said that after the warning strike, if the restiveness and violence on the workers in the oil and gas industry persist, they would withdraw members in the various oil and gas companies operating in the region and declare an indefinite industrial action.

A petition to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State by Elvis Irefo and Olawale Ajayi, PENGASSAN Warri Zonal Chairman and Secretary; and Edmond Ofuge and Otite Onohwowho Warri Zonal NUPENG  Chair-man and Secretary, respectively, reads: “It is particularly worrisome that our recurring calls on the government at various levels and agencies to discuss and resolve the myriad of killings and kidnappings facing the state had proved abortive.

“We are bothered about the psychological trauma and torture that our affected members experience when abducted for ransom and other unknown motives. Moreso, the families of the affected members pass through untold appre-hension and agony.

“We are becoming increasingly disturbed over these dastardly acts which we consider as condemnable and unnecessary on innocent oil and gas workers. We condemn the spate of hostage taking in its entirety.

“We enjoin other well-meaning Nigerians to condemn in very strong and unequivocal terms, the increasing spate of violence in Niger Delta region.

“We believe that the various arms of the government in the country, particularly the Delta State Governor, who is the state’s Chief Secu-rity Officer, will see it as a disturbing development.”

____________

By Victor-Ahiuma Young

Source: Vanguard