NUPENG Threatens to Go on Nationwide Strike Over El-Rufai’s Threats to NLC Leaders
- The actions of Governor Nasir El-Rufai may trigger a nationwide fuel scarcity
- The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers say they will go on a nationwide strike over the governor's actions
- The governor had declared national labour leaders who are leading protests in Kaduna wanted
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The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has threatened to go on a nationwide strike if the federal government fails to caution Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna who has declared the leadership of the organised labour wanted in the state.
There are fears that should NUPENG proceed on a strike, it will affect the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
NUPENG said in a statement by its national president, Williams Akporeha, that it had received a report of a clandestine move of Governor El-Rufai to put the lives of the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, and other union leaders at risk.
Source: UGC
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Part of the statement seen by Legit.ng read:
“The leadership of the union is therefore calling on the federal government to immediately call on Kaduna state governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to order before his arrogance and power-drunk ego further push the situation into horrendous calamity.”
Meanwhile, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has berated Governor El-Rufai for declaring labour leaders wanted in his state.
He said this during a live interview with The Punch newspaper, adding that the governor does not have the power to declare labour leaders wanted.
Some Nigerians have been commenting on the issue via social media.
Fidelis Mathias wrote on Facebook:
“I don't really know the importance of some acquired knowledge. How can the number one citizen of a state feel that the best way to react to an issue is violence. Remember it' a public office.”
Patrick Fido-King wrote on Twitter:
“Very rubbish talk. Is NUPENG saying El-Rufai doesn’t have power over his state or what? NLC simply did wrong by wanting to control the state without checking the payment capacity of the state and also should do proper checks if the people sacked are working. Dialogue shud come first.
“At every little state issue, NUPENG will threaten Nigerians. They should stop holding the country to ransom. I am 100% with El-Rufai. Nigeria must move.”
Great Atanga wrote:
“El-Rufai will understand that this is democracy and the power of the people is ultimate; unchallenged.”
Anto Eni wrote on Nairaland:
“One thing El-Rufai should understand is that this is democracy and the power of the people is ultimate when they are together and united on a cause.”
In a related development, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, has called on Governor El Rufai to immediately reverse his mass sack of workers in Kaduna state.
The group made the call in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Tuesday, May 18 and signed by its executive director, Ezenwa Nwagwu.
According to the group, the action by the governor is insensitive at a time Nigeria is battling with harsh economic realities.
On its part, elected governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress on Tuesday, May 18 called for an amicable resolution of the ongoing face-off between the Kaduna state government and the NLC.
The governors under the platform of Progressive Governors's Forum in a statement issued by its chairman, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and seen by Legit.ng, called for a truce and advised both parties to engage in peaceful negotiation.
Source: Legit.ng
