NUPENG: One Threat Too Many

The recent threat by the National Union
of Petroleum and Natural Gas
(NUPENG) to proceed on a nationwide strike over the leadership dispute rocking its sister union, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) should be a major cause for worry, in view of the strategic role NUPENG plays in the nation’s economic endeavour.
The reason for the proposed strike, this time, according to NUPENG, is its dissatisfaction with the handling of the legal tussle particularly various judicial pronouncements for which they need the Federal Government’s intervention. Apparently, the question of how their agitation can be seen as lawless or why the process should not be muscled do not seem to bother them.
The Tide is at a loss as to why this should be the reason for a strike. We cannot understand why oil workers would insist on having their way against public peace and progress. That they can go on strike when the police says their trucks should not be used to cause obstruction alone makes their case very pitiable.
We condemn the incessant recourse to strikes by NUPENG and other unions in the oil industry, as it is in no way helpful to the course of promoting conducive and sustainable working environment for its members and the Nigerian public. They cannot allow themselves to be drunk by the powers they perceive to have.
It is worrisome that NUPENG which should be a dependable ally of the Nigerian public is unwittingly acquiring a notoriety on account of its incessant resort to strikes to resolve every matter including  internal and administrative disputes that can easily be resolved through arbitration.
The leadership of NUPENG needs to be told in very clear terms that as a vibrant and vital body it cannot continue to take for granted the sensibilities of Nigerians. NUPENG needs to know that its style of activism is taking unionism to a rather ridiculous end, and is capable of robbing off on the goodwill it enjoys.We think it is inappropriate, if not absurd for NUPENG to expect the Federal Government to be involved in an internal matter of a labour union for which the interested parties have sought legal decisions before courts of competent jurisdiction.
It behooves NUPENG, as a partner in the nation’s democratic enterprise to encourage acts that will strengthen the rule of law, rather than support, arm-twisting or blackmailing the Federal Government to engage in illegality. We should avoid the pitfall of an over-bearing influence of a strong industrial union, particularly when the issues involved are not labour related disputes but leadership disagreement among unionists.
Some Nigerians have wondered, and rightly too, if the President of NUPENG, Mr. Achese Igwe actually announced the strike threat, and what the union wishes to demonstrate by baring its fang over nothing.  Indeed, some people have asked if the union is still propelled by the age long patriotic fervour or overtaken by ego-tripping? What joy would NUPENG derive from frustrating the economy and making fellow countrymen suffer untold hardship.
The leadership of NUPENG needs to review its strategy of resolving industrial disputes and union matters they consider germane to the performance of their duties, in order not to endanger fair labour relations and frustrate employers and investors in the economy.
The Tide is concerned that some unions in the oil industry are strike mongers; a situation that had made some employers to resort to unfriendly labour practices, including outlawing unionism, casualization of staff and engaging in daily paid jobs. While it is becoming increasingly difficult to condemn such practices, the impact it inflicts on the worker is huge.
We expect that NUPENG and other unions would be concerned about the goodwill and public support they get from Nigerians. We urge them to take more profound look at the rules of engagement on labour relations and workers agitation. Clearly, strike is the last option all over the world and not the fist as these oil workers want to make it.