Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Labour Congress has directed workers in Akwa Ibom State to withdraw their services and stay at home, effective midnight of September 25, 2024, following the strike action embarked by petroleum marketers in the state.
This is as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, had directed all its members to withdrew their services in Akwa Ibom from Tuesday, over alleged confiscation of PMS laden trucks at Ibaka by some JTF personnel.
IPMAN in a memo issued by its Chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Francis Udoyen, and Secretary, Prince Ekom Idemudo, said the strike action was approved by its national body.
“As part of our collective obligation to stand for each other in season and off season, equally drawing strength from the resolution taken at our last emergency congress over members’ trucks in the custody of JTF operatives (four months now), you are hereby directed to close your filling station(s) from the public from 24th September, 2024 till further notice.
“This action has the approval of our National Office and non-compliance will be viewed with appropriate consequence,” IPMAN said in the memo.
But in a swift reaction, NLC Chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Sunny James, in a letter to Governor Umo Eno, said workers will remain at home untill the impasse between IPMAN and JTF is resolved, and the strike actions by the petroleum marketers are called off.
James said the decision for workers to withdraw their services was taken by the State Administrative Council, SAC of NLC in Akwa Ibom State, during an emergency session on the impact arising from this directive to our workers and citizens.
NLC urged Governor Umo Eno to personally intervene by setting up a team to investigate claims from parties in dispute that necessitated the confiscation of the PMS loaded trucks and subsequent withdrawal of services.
The letter reads parts, “The SAC-in-Session frown at the short notice given to the already impoverished workers and citizens to re-adjust themselves on the impact the withdrawal of services will cause them.
“The SAC-in-Session further note the negative but untold hardship our workers and citizens are going through in attending to their work/businesses and hereby direct all workers to withdraw their services and stay at home, effective midnight of September 25, 2024 until this impasse is resolved and the strike actions of IPMAN are called off to enable citizens breath.
“While calling for the immediate and amicable resolution of the matter, Organised Labour are calling on parties to sheath their sword and not make Akwa Ibom experimental grounds for negative actions.”
