Oscarline Onwuemenyi 15 December 2014, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has advised the Federal Government to address the grievances of oil workers that have led to an indefinite strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Union, NUPENG, and the the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.
The union said in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Lagos, a copy of which was obtained by SweetcrudeReports, that the strike would cripple the economy and bring untold hardship to millions of Nigerians who were managing to cope under the current economic condition.The communique noted that, “The NEC in session expressed concern on the reported attitude and response of the concerned management and government agencies to the barrage of national issues, oil and gas policy and institutional issues as well as cases of unfair labour practices.
“The NEC also notes the strong efforts made by NUPENG/PENGASSAN to internally resolve the reported grievance at the instance of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies which the concerned managements severally frustrated.
“NEC therefore urges government to attend to all the reported issues as a matter of urgent national importance to avoid the backlash on the Nigerian public,” the communique added.
It said that the global slump in the crude oil price should be translated into the reduction in the pump price of refined products in the country”.
