The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its planned strike, following interventions and engagements with government agencies and institutions, including the NNPC.

The union expressed gratitude to NNPC’s group managing director, Mele Kyari and his team for helping to resolve the impasse.

NUPENG’s president, Williams Akporeha and general secretary, Afolabi Olawale, announced this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos.

“NNPC’s management has once again proven to the union and the nation that it can be trusted in matters of ensuring decency of employment and peaceful industrial relations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry,” stated NUPENG. “On behalf of members of our union, we promise to reciprocate these commendable efforts with hitch-free and effective distribution of petroleum products during the forthcoming festive period.’’

On November 25, NUPENG extended a 14-day ultimatum earlier given to the federal government by seven days.

The planned strike was to protest what NUPENG called non-implementation of agreements reached with the government.

“Some of the resolutions from these engagements include the commencement of the processes to clear all backlogs of arrears of salaries and allowances owed contract workers of Oil Mining Licence 42 before the end of December,” it had noted. “The agreement and firm commitment to pay N2.13 million to each of the former employees of the big six contractors whose terminal benefits were short-paid in 2012 following the closure of the contract.” 

(NAN)