NUPENG suspends picketing General Electric, as Ngige intervenes

By Benjamin Usman

Following the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, yesterday suspended its one-day picketing of the headquarters of General Electric, GE.

It has been reported that NUPENG in solidarity with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, on Monday took to the streets of Lagos in protest against General Electric.

The protesters, who had blocked the entrance into the company, did not allow other employees and management of the company into the compound.

They were dressed in red, chanting songs, and carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “GE must pay ARCO to pay our members”.

Head of Administration, Lagos Zonal Council, NUPENG, Mr Badmus Aiyedun, told journalists yesterday that the union suspended the strike following the intervention of Ngige.

Aiyedun asserted that the leadership of NUPENG, GE management and officials of the Labour ministry, would be meeting Monday next week to resolve the lingering issues that led to the aborted strike.

He, however, stated that if after the meeting the matter was not resolved, the union might resume its action.