Oil workers end strike after Kachikwu’s no job cuts promise
Kachikwu
Nigerian oil workers unions under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have called off a day-old strike after the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, following the unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Both PENGASSAN and NUPENG embarked on the strike on Wednesday, an action which had heightened fears that the current fuel scarcity being experienced across the country might persist.
Kachikwu announced on Tuesday that the NNPC had been restructured and broken down into five business-focused and two service-driven units.
He explained during a world press conference that the reorganization is aimed at fulfilling one of the key change agenda of the present government, noting that the reorganisation will introduce accountability, transparency and probity in the management of the corporation.
The unions claimed that the government’s action was a surprise to them, claiming that they were not informed before the government took the action.”
“The strike was called off around 5:00 am this morning at the end of an all-night meeting with union officials,” Ohi Alegbe, said NNPC’s spokesman.
“The minister clarified the government’s position on the ongoing reorganisation in NNPC. At the end of the day, the unions were satisfied,” he said.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
11 Comments
Could they not have sought the clarification before the strike? We must be careful in this country to avoid being seen by the outsiders as uncivilized street men in our conducts and thinking.
Are civilized before? why the pretence
They are owed no apologies. If this work stoppage had occurred during the hey days of the subsidies, one should have lived with it. Disrupting the change attitude this time with work sabotage speaks ill of Labor intentions in our scope of moving forward. I think they realized that and acted accordingly.
One would have expected or thought that an ultimatum or notice would first be served before a strike action. I do not understand why some people for selfish reasons place the cart before the horse.
How about NNPC letting the unions know before announcing the restructuring to the rest of the country? That would have avoided any strike action in the first place.
Lets assume the unions are not aware or were not informed, does that justify a strike that’s not in public interest?. Lets remember the saying that two wrongs never make a right.
Sometimes, our unions allow selfish interests to overwhelm them…and they also dance to the tunes of some political godfathers or businessmen. The least important factor to them is integrity. Nigeria is changing and man is doing a good job in difficult circumstances. Let us all support him and revive our refineries and allied industries.
Ibe Kachikwu owe NUPENG/PENGASSAN no apology to his re organisation agenda,many Nigerians lost their jobs,without being paid a dine,NNPC workers have been enjoying so fattly over the years.they cannot hold Nigeria hostage.
I think the Unions reasoned with wisdom. They dodged an explosive bullet for what ‘ll be coming if they continued, would have been disastrous. Labor should help this Administration consummate its change foundation, give it time for the initiatives to take hold and take-off positively or otherwise before assessing its(Labor) priorities and saber-rattling. Anything short of that is working against reality. The Nation is at her most vulnerable moments now. We cannot afford foolish pride, insensitivity and unnecessary headstrongness. I applaud your decision to call of the strike warning or show of significance. We are in a period of pain in this Democratic journey. Let’s confront it with gusto and the love of Country. Victory will be ours thereafter. Long live the Republic of Nigeria,
Good news…
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
~ Abraham Lincoln
For this and more inspirational quotes, stories and motivational tidbits, visit ObinnaOnyenali.com.
Well Done Mr Kachiukwu, you achieved a solution after an all night meeting with the striking unions. You are a problem solver and really appears to be effective. Results matter, not failures. You are justifying your position positively and in short, you are performing. Performance is your reality as you have demonstrated. More grease(or oil..) to your elbows.
We will review and take appropriate action.