Mkpoikana Udoma 21 June 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has suspended its twelve days old strike in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
The strike unleashed fuel scarcity on the people of both states after the union directed all filling stations in the states to shut down as part of the strike.
The strike started following the refusal of an oil firm, Uniterm Nigeria Limited, to recall over 200 workers allegedly sacked for joining labour union. The oil firm, as alleged by NUPENG, forcefully locked some workers inside a room and asked them to denounce membership of NUPENG.
Briefing newsmen on Monday night, after a nine hour-long meeting between parties involved and the Rivers State government, the Acting Chairman of NUPENG, Eastern Zone, Comrade Charles Eleto, said the union decided to suspend the strike pending further deliberations with the state governor in the next 48 hours.