The nation may soon be thrown into another round of fuel scarcity as a result of threat by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to withdraw its services to protest the mass sack and non-unionisation of its members in Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO) and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Limited in Kwale, Warri area of Delta state.

Already, the union has put on notice the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police, and the Acting Director-General of Department of State Security and other relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas industry with a view to avert the impending crisis.

Comrade Williams Akporeha, President of the union, in a statement yesterday, said his union would not hesitate to embark on strike if the stakeholders fail to nip the crisis in the bud.

The NUPENG’s boss, who said it was the union’s resolve to always work with all employers of workers in the oil and gas sector with the primary aim of entrenching and sustaining industrial peace and harmony in the overall interest of the country, maintained that the union would never hesitate to stand firm in protecting the interest of its members particularly when their rights are being violated.

He said workers of these drilling rigs had overtly indicated their willingness and readiness to join the union of their choice and NUPENG had responded appropriately to the request of these workers with several requests for union recognition from the management.

He, however, regretted that the management of Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO) and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Limited had resulted to high handedness and violence through the use of military men and armed militias to forcefully evacuate over 2500 workers from the five drilling rigs.

Decrying the highhandedness of the Indian operated companies, he said his union found it grossly unfortunate and unacceptable that they would be using brute force to dehumanise, terrorise, and victimise Nigerians in their own country.

• Text (excluding headline) excerpted from a Daily Independent report

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