Federal Government has unveiled plans to meet with the striking oil workers under the aegis of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Expected at the “crucial conciliatory meeting” slated for 11:30am at the conference room of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, are: Igwe Achese, NUPENG President and members of the National Executive Council of NUPENG as well as chairmen of State Councils.
NUPENG is the Trade Union of junior workers in the oil and gas sector including Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), National Electricity Employees Union (NUEE); National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), telecommunication unions and Aviation unions who were affiliates of the United Labour Congress (ULC).
Meanwhile, all the oil workers in the senior staff category belong to Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (NUPENGASSAN) and affiliated to Trade Union Congress (TUC).
However, Achese, NUPENG President who doubles as the Vice President of United Labour Congress, is the chairman of the joint unions (NUPENGASSAN).
Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment who initiated the crucial conciliatory meeting with NUPENG, had last week described the planned strike as economic sabotage.
The Minister who read Riot Act to the workers last week, also threatened that relevant labour laws would be invoked against promoters of ULC.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
