NUPENG Suspends Nationwide Strike
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NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA-JULY 2009-In Bolo creek, the villagers are bunkering the oil from Shell facilities and refining it to sell it on the black market. Around 30 to 40 illegal refineries can be found all over the creek. The strong presence of the militants is keeping away the army and the police allowing the villagers to work freely. (Photo by Veronique de Viguerie/ Getty Images)
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its nationwide strike which began on Sunday.
This followed the intervention of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru.
In a statement issued by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, on Monday in Abuja, Baru explained that his intervention was in national interest.
Baru also approved the increase in bridging costs from N6.20 to N7.20.
“In mediating between the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), we understand the difficulty of NARTO to go into negotiations which has to do with the level of bridging allowance.
”I am happy to announce that the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has given his approval to increase the bridging allowance from N6.20 to N7.20,” Baru said in the statement.
