Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to withdraw fuel supply to the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs over disagreement with the
Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCOM).
The Union, addressing newsmen on the outcome of its National Executive Committee
(NEC) meeting in Abuja, yesterday, NUPENG’s President, Igwe Achese said
the living conditions of Nigerians were very poor, the economy in
shambles and the economic recovery efforts very slow.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve his cabinet for
non-performance, saying that it was high time the President injected new
blood that could rescue the nation.
Achese hoped that the two weeks grace which NUPENG had extended to the government may attract the necessary intervention.
He said, “For the past four years we have been discussing the issue
of redundancy and closure of Seawolf of which AMCOM which is a federal
agency took over since 2013.
“It is very unfortunate to state clearly those workers of the company
that AMCOM took over, AMCOM has refused to pay them their terminal
benefits since 2013 and therefore the union in a very strong resolution
is requesting the federal government to prevail on AMCOM to open windows
for dialogue to pay these Seawolf workers whom they took over.
“Of course you will agree with me that taking over a company such as
the case of AMCOM; you are taking both liabilities and assets and as
such we have written series of letters to the Ministry of Petroleum,
Ministry of Labour to the security agencies the DSS and all agencies
expected to be notified on this issue.
“We are aware that AMCOM instead of paying these workers and
negotiating the terminal benefits of these workers have decided to take
the matter to court and we are faced with series of adjournment since
2013.
“We, therefore, have no choice as a union than to write an open
letter to Mr President and the Acting President to take all necessary
steps to address the issues of Seawolf and that of Chevron.
“However, we gave notice to Federal Government in our earlier letters
that failure to address these issues, the NEC in session has taken a
decision that within two weeks of not addressing these issues, NUPENG
will withdraw her services into Abuja and its environs.
“At this point, we are also directing all our workers like the tanker
drivers in the entire country to begin to wear red cloths and also
carry leaves on their trucks in readiness for this struggle”.