NNPC promises to implement agreement with organized labour
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has promised to implement the agreements reached between the organized labour and the Federal Government.
He praised the labour unions for putting their planned strike action over the increase in prices of petrol and electricity on hold.
The two foremost labour unions in the country, the National Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had threatened to commence a strike action following the FG’s decision to hike pump price of fuel and electricity tariffs.
However, the unions made a U-turn and suspended the strike for two weeks after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government on Sunday.
Part of the agreement reached between both parties was that the Federal Government would fast-track the repair and rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna.
Also, the FG was to ensure the Port Harcourt reached 50 percent completion before December 21, 2021. A separate Steering Committee is to oversee the establishment of timelines and delivery for the Warri and the Kaduna refineries.
“We reached an accord to suspend the planned strike action, great responsibility for both government and Labour, all serving the common good, beneficial challenge for NNPC, we will follow through diligently,” Kyari said on Twitter after the meeting.
“Being a former Union leader, I understand the difficulties of Labour leadership when faced with choices between stark realities and legitimate follower expectations. The leadership chose the pursuit of common good and posterity will vindicate us all for standing with our country.
“NLC and TUC demonstrated absolute faith in our country and showed understanding on the inevitability of PMS deregulation and jointly charted a way forward to secure local refining sufficiency through greater stakeholder inclusiveness and transparency. We will follow through diligently.”
Some months ago, the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company announced a hike in the pump price of fuel from N145 per litre to N151
