by Isi Esene

The co-ordinating minister for the Economy and minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has described the planned nationwide strike by members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as anti-people.

The union is insisting that the government must pay subsidy funds to verified marketers by Friday or it would embark on its planned strike to shut down all activities nationwide.

Okonjo-Iweala expressed her thought on the matter saying, “NUPENG is anti-Nigerians. NUPENG is siding with the wrong people. There is no reason for NUPENG to hold Nigerians to ransom on behalf of people who have been taking public money for fuel they did not supply.”

The minister also showed appreciation for the progress that has been made between both parties on the agreed modalities to have an efficient and transparent fuel distribution system, adding that the current administration will always insist on transparency in the interest of Nigerians.

She said the Federal Government will continue to be on the side of transparency and urged the people to join the government in its fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, the acting general secretary of NUPENG, Isaac Aberare, denied having any meeting with the government, he said, “There was no meeting and no contact with the Finance minister. We only received an invitation from the minister of Labour for us to attend a crucial meeting.”

“We expect government to plead that we suspend the planned strike and that everything will be done to pay the marketers. But if that is all they will tell us without evidence of payment, our Monday ultimatum subsists because the jobs of our members in Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria, JEPTFON, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN , are at risk. In fact, they have not been paid for the past five months. They have suffered a lot. What I am saying is that if the government fails to provide convincing evidence of payment, I am afraid, we will commence full blown nationwide strike after Thursday,” he threatened.

NUPENG had on Monday threatened to down tools if oil marketers are not paid their subsidy funds by Friday. The union’s president, Comrade Igwe Achese had demanded the resignation of the Finance minister accusing her of paying those he described as ‘portfolio importers’ who are close to the corridors of power.

On the accusation that the union was anti-people for allowing itself to be used by influential oil marketers, Achese responded saying, “NUPENG cannot and will never be used by the Federal Government, institutions, or companies because we are stakeholders in the industry. The fight and struggle for the enthronement of democracy in this country during the June 12, 1993 struggle cannot be in vain.”

Fuel queues have started to emerge in some major cities in the country due to anticipation of the planned strike by NUPENG.