By Bashir Adigun
Abuja - The head of one of Nigeria's largest oil unions said on Thursday that they plan to either "intensify" or suspend a three-day strike based on the day's negotiations with government officials.
The 20 000-person strike, which started on Wednesday, was prompted by the recent deaths of two oil company employees and growing concern about worker safety in the oil-rich delta region.
Oil companies said that the strike had not greatly affected production. Throughout the country, long queues formed at gas stations as supplies ran low.
"We are meeting today with a view to either intensifying or suspending the strike," said Peter Akpatason, head of the blue-collar workers' union. "We want safety for our members in the Niger Delta immediately."
Continues Below ↓
Nigeria is Africa's largest crude exporter and the fifth-largest supplier to the United States. Attacks and kidnappings in its Niger River delta have cut production by nearly 900 000 barrels since the beginning of the year.
The strike was called after an employee of a Royal Dutch Shell PLC-led joint venture in Nigeria was killed three weeks ago in gunfights between government forces and militants. On Tuesday, another Nigerian oil worker was killed when his boat was attacked.
The unions have called for a meeting with state governors and security forces on October 9. They also want to set up a commission to investigate the death of their colleague, and have asked the government to revoke the recent sale of the Eleme chemical plant to a foreign company.
Union bosses held talks with the Nigerian government on Wednesday but declined to discuss the negotiations.
"I hope they will call off the strike. That is what people are expecting from them," said Timiebi Korikamo-Agary, a Labour Ministry official.
Union bosses held talks with the Nigerian government on Wednesday but declined to discuss any concessions offered. Officials at the Oil Ministry were not available for comment. - Sapa-AP
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
