As part of the ongoing Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike in the state, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has ordered its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and other members to halt all fuel distribution and sales in Imo State.
Recall that on Wednesday, the NLC in Imo State announced a nationwide, indefinite strike over unpaid pay, labor rights abuses, and other issues.
Since Wednesday, the state’s electrical supply has been cut off from the national grid.
NUPENG in a letter to its leadership in Port Harcourt Zone, and State Chairperson, lmo State Coordinating Council of NUPENG, Owerri, lmo State, directed that PTD, Petrol Stations Workers, PSW, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers, LPGAR, and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution in lmo state to shut down all forms of services to and in the State.
The letter signed by NUPENG General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, reads in part “Following the barbaric attacks on our sacred democratic tradition of Nigeria Labour Movement by the anti-Labour government of lmo State during the recent State Delegates’ Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress and consequent upon a clear directive from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to all affiliated industrial Unions to mobilize members for total shut down of all services being rendered by the Nigerian workers in lmo State with effect from midnight of Wednesday, 8th March 2023, you are hereby directed to ensure total shut down of all services of NUPENG members in lmo State.
@The leadership further joined the global labour movement community to strongly condemn the undemocratic, irresponsible and reprehensible attack on the peaceful gathering of lmo State workers to elect their leaders.
“The hiring of thugs and other undesirable elements bythe agents of lmo State in the bid to ,install puppets as Workers leaders in the State is barbaric, crude and condemnable in all ramifications.
“ln furtherance.of the above directive, I hereby write to direct you and other leaders of NUPENG in lmo State to mobilize and direct all our members who are Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Petrol Stations Workers (PSW), Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers (LPGAR) and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution in lmo state to shut down all forms of services to and in the State with effect from Midnight of Wednesday, 8th March, 2023.”