Kaduna: NUPENG threatens nationwide strike if NLC chairman Wabba, others are harmed

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened downing tools nationwide should harm befalls any leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demonstrating in Kaduna State.

The national chairman of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, is in the North-Western state to pressure the state government to rescind its decision to sack members of the workforce body.

On Tuesday morning, Governor Nasir El-rufai declared Mr Wabba and his cohorts wanted, saying there were sabotaging the economy of the state. Moments later, armed thugs violently accosted the protesters demonstrating at NEPA junction but security agencies quelled the hoodlums.

Mr El-rufai who placed bounty on the leaders of the NLC however drove past Wabba who was leading a protest at the front of the state government house.

In a statement jonthly signed by the President Comrade Willaims Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolobi Olawale, NUPENG placed her members nationwide on red alert for total shut down should any harm befalls the any leader of the NLC in the state.

It also called on the federal government to call the Kaduna governor, who allegedly unleashed thugs on the protesters, to order.

“The National Leadership of NUPENG is deeply saddened with the violent turn of NLC peaceful protests by the dictatorial and despotic regime of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State,” the union said.

“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.

“Consequently, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimized during this 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 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 shut down of all our services in the upstream, mid-stream 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 situation arises,” it added.