The Federal Government is making serious and intense efforts at averting what may seem to be a looming industrial crises involving NUPENG , oil marketers , Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria staff and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The approach taken by government at resolving this crisis is multi-faceted and multi dimensional. The Ministers of Labour, Power, and other high level officers of government have met for several hours with the aggrieved PHCN workers and virtually all their demands have been agreed upon except for the issue severance benefits of workers. While the workers insist on their terms of employment, government’s proposition is based on the Pension Act of 2004. However, this matter will most probably be resolved favourably within the coming week by the Presidency.
In the same vein, the coordinating minister of the economy and Finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala has shifted her base temporarily to Lagos inspite of the holidays and has been engaged intensively also with the aggrieved marketers , union members and other stakeholders in the downstream sector.
All indications are to the effect that favourable resolutions are being reached and all matters are likely to be resolved within this week, as all these efforts are being made to ensure that the crisis that has caused a lot of hardships to commuters and motorists is not unduly prolonged and does not also extend beyond the city of Abuja in the case of the fuel scarcity.
The Federal Government therefore urges Nigerians to be calm, as all hands are on deck to ensure that normalcy returns soonest.
Dr Doyin Okupe
Senior Special Assistant to the President
Public Affairs