The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has threatened to fight Lagos state government to stand-still, beginning from January 19, if it failed to settle the N224 million it is owing the union.
The South West Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said in Lagos that the N224 million was for payment for the supply of diesel and kerosene to the state government for the execution of direct labour projects in Ojodu between October 2014 and May 2015.
The chairman said that the contract was financed by Skye Bank which is now asking for repayment of the loan.
Korodo said that the union would go to the State Secretariat in Alausa with about 1,000 petroleum tankers to picket the Governor’s Office, House of Assembly and other ministries.
according to him, the union had written to the state government on the picketing, but regretted that the government is yet to respond, adding that NUPENG had also formally informed the Department of State Services and the state Commissioner of Police on their proposed action.
“We are picketing Lagos State Secretariat come January 19 for their indebtedness to our members to the tune of N224 million without interest.
“The union was given contract to supply diesel and kerosene by former Governor Raji Fashola for Lagos State Public Works through direct labour between October 2014 and May 2015.
“We have since fulfilled our part of the contract and have appealed to the state government to pay us our money. We borrowed money from Syke Bank to finance the project and the bank had been on our neck to pay back the money.
“We have written several letters to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to pay the debt but there was no response from him.
“Consequently, over 1,000 tankers shall be used by NUPENG members as a means of transportation to the Governor’s Office and State Assembly. If this fails, scarcity of fuel may resurface in Lagos State in particular.
“We are pleading with Lagosians to assist us to prevail on our Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to respect the business agreement.”
Korodo said that if the state government continues to be silent over the matter after the picketing, the union would be left with no option than to embark on indefinite strike.
“If we are provoked further, wvfce will down tools because injury to one member is injury to all members.” [myad]
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