By 
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has urged the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to dialogue with Dangote Company over planned strike.
Mr Chukwudi Ezinwa, the IPMAN National Executive Committee member made the appeal at a press conference on Monday in Enugu.
NUPENG had announced that its members would commence a nationwide strike from Monday, and warned of an imminent nationwide fuel scarcity.
Southeastposts report that the strike is in protest against what it described as anti-labour practices linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks by the Dangote Refinery, for direct distribution of petroleum products.
Speaking on Monday, Ezinwa, who is representing the East in IPMAN National Executive Council, appealed to NUPENG, to consider the hardship they would subject Nigerians to if they embarked on their proposed strike, adding that there should be a dialogue, where parties can come together to discuss and find a common ground to settle it.
He said, “I am glad that the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour has summoned a meeting in this regard.“That is the right way to go. I disagree completely with anybody calling for a strike at this moment.
“Nigeria is passing through a lot now and we cannot add more pain to the injury of the masses because the strike they are calling, Dangote and other wealthy Nigerians cannot feel it, but the common man on the street.
“So, I am of the opinion that people calling for strike should do that with restraint as it will cause inflation, panic buying and increase in price of petroleum products,” he said.
Ezinwa, also a former IPMAN Chairman, Enugu Depot, also decried the call by IPMAN Zonal Chairman, East Zone, Prince Bobby Dick, that members from the zone should join the strike.
He, however, said that IPMAN would play a fatherly role to ensure the matter was settled, describing the issue as “a problem between our employers and investors.
Comments