Nigeria: Oil Workers' Strike Won't Disrupt Supply - NNPC

 

The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured that the three-day strike embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) will not disrupt fuel supply nationwide.

But, the South-West Chapter Chairman of NUPENG, Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, told newsmen yesterday that the strike would definitely affect distribution of fuel in the country.

The corporation, in a statement signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division (GPAD), Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja yesterday, said it was in discussion with the leadership of the unions who gave the assurance that they would not disrupt the fuel supply and distribution system as the strike was basically aimed at addressing the alleged anti-labour issues by some of the International Oil Companies (IOCs).

But, Korodo denied the claims by the NNPC, saying, "this is a lie, all our members are supposed to be on strike. We have told our members to stay off work. We are not allowing any truck to load from the depots and we have our members at the filling stations". He said that the unions were in talk with the government concerning the strike and the result of the meeting will determine if the association will be embarking on strike or not".