Nationwide Strike: Reps seek speedy resolution on Oil workers agitation

…as NNPC, NUPENG, NATO meet
….as motorists emabrk on panic buying of PMS

The House of Representatives on Monday called on Federal Government to expedite action in halting the ongoing industrial action declared by Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), an affiliate of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The management team of Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are currently meeting with the leadership of NUPENG and National Road Transport Owners (NARTO) with he view to resolve the issues bothering on sack of about 2,000 oil workers and poor state of some roads.

BusinessDay gathered that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige was not part of the tripartite meeting held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja which started about 3pm.

Our Correspondent observed that queues have returned to some number of filling stations across Abuja metropolis and neighbouring towns, as motorists embarked on panic buying as a means of preparedness for the industrial action.

Francis Ezenwa, chairman, House Committee on Labour and Employment who have the charge in a chat with Legislative Correspondents, explained that the lingering crisis over the sack of about 2,000 workers is being handled at inter-Ministerial Committee level.

“There are some germane issues they talked about. The state of roads which directly affect them. Also they talked about the issue of Capital Oil close to sack about 2,000 workers.

“Those are the issues that should be quickly addressed.
Sacking about 2,000 workers would affect the economy,” he stressed.

When asked about the step taken by the House to avert the strike, Ezenwa explained that the Parliament is monitoring the situation, addi g that the House is advising the Executive to dialogue with the leadership of all the unions involved in the industrial action

“Anything that affects Nigerian people is something that is pertinent. I will also intervene but for now the issue is being handled at the ministerial level. Once we see that there’s no resolution, we will come in,” Ezenwa told newsmen.