Oil workers begin strike today

monjola sotubo

December 15, 2014 3:54 AM

The workers have gone on strike to protest the government’s refusal to reduce the pump price of petrol despite the worldwide decline in the price of crude oil.

The threat of fuel scarcity looms again in Nigeria as oil workers in the country begin a nationwide strike today, December 15.

The workers, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have gone on strike to protest the government’s refusal to reduce the pump price of petrol despite the worldwide decline in the price of crude oil.

The workers are also protesting the government’s failure to maintain the country’s four refineries, the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill and the non-implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.

The strike is expected to affect all oil and gas operations in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, according to a statement by the Media and Information Officer of PENGASSAN, Babatunde Oke.

The unions have also said that the strike will not be suspended until the government makes a firm commitment towards addressing their grievances.

monjola sotubo