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  • News - North Central - FCT
  • Updated: May 19, 2021

NUPENG Condemns El-Rufai, Threatens Nationwide Strike

NUPENG Condemns El-Rufai, Threatens Nationwide Strike

File Photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

The National Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has condemned the action of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday in the ongoing dispute with the labor unions in the state.

In a statement signed by the group’s National President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG described El-Rufai’s administration as “dictatorial and despotic”.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have embarked on a five-day warning strike and protests in the state over the sack of over 7,000 civil servants in the state.

The El-Rufai led administration in Kaduna has insisted that it did not have the financial capacity to pay the relieved workers.

On Tuesday, the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, declared the union leaders wanted in the state for economic sabotage, saying the industrial action had affected key state infrastructure and services, including the health and power.

On the other hand, the union leaders have accused the state of action equivalent to ‘abuse of power’, including using thugs to disrupt a peaceful protest.

In its statement on Tuesday, NUPENG said it was “deeply saddened” with how events turned in Kaduna.

“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 as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing,” the statement said.

“Consequently, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimized during these 5-day peaceful protests in the State.

“Our Union is raising this alarm following the very reliable report of the clandestine move of Governor Nasir El-RUfai to hurt and put the lives of NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other Labour Leaders to danger in his usual blind egotistical style of running the government in the State

“NUPENG, therefore, warns that if any harm is inflicted on any of the members of organized Labour, the Leadership of the Union will not hesitate to call on all our members throughout the nation for a total shutdown of all our services in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.

“In the light of the above, we are therefore putting all NUPENG members nationwide on red alert and may at very short notice of five hours call for a nationwide industrial action if the situation arises

“Our solidarity remains constant for the Union makes us strong.”

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