Oil Workers in Nigeria have threatened a fresh strike action unless the government intervenes in the mass retrenchment of some of its members.
The workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) in a statement on Wednesday says it is giving the government a 21 day ultimatum to stop the retrenchment or it will embark on a fresh strike action.
The statement partly reads, “NUPENG will take all necessary action to drive home its demands if FG failed to act in 21 days. We are 100% in support against anti-corruption, but there must be respite for Nigerians.
“Right now, our members and even those in other sectors are no longer able to pay school fees for their children and even afford rents. Worse still, those being sacked now are so treated without commitment to proper terminal benefits.”
Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest economy and top oil producer, has been hit hard by the slump in oil revenues, its lifeblood.
The country relies on crude sales for about 70 percent of its government revenues.
The oil workers had in July suspended a previous strike action following talks with the government.
The workers suspended the strike after the government decided to review issues on job security, casualisation of workers and improved welfare as demanded by the workers.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had in August appealed to oil companies not to dismiss its staff assuring that government will do all it can to make the environment more beneficial for their business. (TV360 Nigeria)