NUPENG gives 21- day ultimatum to multinationals over unfair labour practices

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Sunday gave a 21-day ultimatum to employers in the Nigerian oil and gas to address workers welfare to ameliorate their suff erings. He said the ultimatum would take effect from Monday urging the affected organisations to resolve contending issues to avoid further action. NUPENG President Prince Williams Akporeha, said at a news conference in Lagos that over 500 union members had not been paid after working for some international oil companies. Akporeha said that apart from not paying their salaries, the companies had continuously illtreated the workers who are also casuals. He said the companies did not allow for unionisation, refused collective bargaining negotiation, non-payment of end of contract benefits and practice other antilabour activities. “This is alien to our extant industrial rules. Some of the workers have died, while others are roaming the streets because they could not get their money. “A prominent oil company which is among the debtors claims it cannot locate the contractor who hired the workers to do the job. This is sad,’’ Akporeha said. He also said that the union was dismayed about the activities of some contract workers’ contractor that were engaged by some oil companies that had refused to pay workers their benefits after service. He urged the oil companies to prevail on such contractors to do the needful as it was criminal and a slap to the government. The union leader added that it was unfair that the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) had failed to implement the 2016 agreement reached with the union on tanker drivers