PORT HARCOURT – Some residents in Port Harcourt on Tuesday called on the striking oil workers not take embark on actions that would worsen the economic situation in the country.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Seniour Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) are on a three-day warning strike.
They are protesting over some issues including the delay in the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill casualisation and contract staffing.
The Port Harcourt residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was important that all stakeholders should pool their resources with a view to making the economy strong rather than weaken it.
Mr Chima Uba told NAN that the industrial action was capable of retarding business activities in the country.
Uba said that industrial action was not proper, adding that the best solution was dialogue.
He urged the oil workers to close ranks with Federal Government to build the nation’s economy.
“Members of both PENGASSAN and the Federal Government are all Nigerians. It is very important for each of them to think Nigeria first.
‘’While we expect the Federal Government to do the needful, we also expect the striking workers to consider what the citizenry will go through because of their action,’’ Uba said.
Another respondent, Mr Ben Worlu, appealed to the striking workers to return to their duty posts, but blamed the Federal Government for the strike.
Worlu said the strike would do the nation’s economy more harm than good at this period.
Mr Ken West said strikes were not the best of options to resolve industrial disputes, adding that he was optimistic that the Federal Government would avert full-blown strike by the oil workers.
He appealed to the striking workers to return to work in the interest of the citizenry. (NAN)
Port Harcourt residents caution oil workers on economy
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