BEVERLY HILLS, May 18, (THEWILL) – The national leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep sadness over the violent turn of workers’ peaceful protests in Kaduna.
Describing the regime of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State as dictatorial and despotic, the leadership of the union called on the Federal Government to immediately call him to order
The union spoke in the wake of El-Rufai declaring wanted the NLC leadership under Comrade Ayuba Wabba, followed by pro-government hoodlums attacking peaceful protesters in Kaduna with machetes, daggers and cudgels.
Sounding a note of warning NUPENG said: “The leadership of the Union is therefore calling on the Federal Government to immediately call Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to order before his arrogance and power drunk ego further pushes the situation into horrendous calamity as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing.”
The warning came in a press statement signed by Comrade Williams Akporeha, NUPENG National President, and Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the General Secretary.
The statement partly read: “Consequently, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimised during this 5-day peaceful protest in the State.
“Our Union is raising this alarm following the very reliable report of the clandestine move of Governor Nasir El-RUfai to hurt and put the lives of NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and other Labour Leaders to danger in his usual blind egotistical style of running government in the State
“NUPENG therefore warns that if any harm is inflicted on any of the members of organised Labour, the Leadership of the Union will not hesitate to call on all our members throughout the nation for a total shutdown of all our services in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
“In the light of the above, we are therefore putting all NUPENG members nationwide on red alert and may at very short notice of five hours call for a nationwide industrial action if the situation arises
“Our solidarity remains constant for the Union makes us strong.”
The Governor on Tuesday announced the sacking of all nurses taking part in the strike action.
The NLC is protesting in solidarity with Kaduna State workers over the unilateral sacking by the Governor of hundreds of government employees in various MDAs, with Labour insisting that they must be reinstated.
E-Rufai has defied the workers, vowing he must carry out his plan to “rightsize” the civil service.
After serving a long notice, NLC led workers out on a five-day warning strike that began on Monday with street protests.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
