FEDERAL GOVERNMENT URGES NUPENG TO SUSPEND PLANNED NATIONWIDE STRIKE.

The Nigerian government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to halt its planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence today, September 8, over the ongoing dispute with Dangote Refinery.

NUPENG had last week accused Dangote Refinery Chairman, Aliko Dangote over alleged anti-labour activities due to his stance that drivers hired to operate the company’s 10,000 imported Compressed Natural Gas, CNG trucks would be barred from joining any trade union, a stance which the union said violates constitutional right to freedom of association.

However, in a more recent development, the Minister of Labour and Employment in a statement issued last night through the ministry’s spokesperson, Patience Onuobia, called for a meeting between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery scheduled to hold today and appealed to the union not to embark on any strike action.

This latest development was confirmed by the National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, but maintained that the strike would proceed while its members meet with the federal government and Dangote Refinery.