Subsidy payment: NUPENG calls off strike

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has suspended it nationwide strike called in solidarity with independent petroleum products marketers over unpaid subsidy claims among others.

The suspension was sequel to a decision reached by stakeholders at a meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, and attended by officials of the the Ministry of Finance, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners Association, JEPTFON, and NUPEN, in Abuja, on Friday night.

NUPENG had on Friday began the indefinite strike over the payment of 2012 petroleum subsidy arrears, the state of the refineries, labour issues concerning SPDC, bad roads in the country, and restructuring of loans of JEPTFON members.

The communique said, “After noting the concerns expressed by the NUPENG and JEPTFON, government affirmed that the payment of petroleum subsidy for 2012 has commenced. The issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes (SDN) for verified and processed batches will be concluded within two weeks.”

NUPENG expressed its dissatisfaction on the state of the refineries in the country and requested to know whether the TAM of the refineries will commence as scheduled. “NNPC gave details of steps already being taken for the TAM andRehabilitation of the plants and assured the Trade Union that the TAM/Rehabilitation of the refineries would be done as planned. NNPC will ensure availability of crude to all the refineries”, the communique said.