Okonjo Iweala Lambast NUPENG, Says Its Anti-Nigerians

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has lambasted the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and has labeled the union as an anti-Nigerian group owing to the union's insistence to embark on a nationwide strike unless oil marketers are paid their subsidy claims.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has lambasted the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and has labeled the union as an anti-Nigerian group owing to the union's insistence to embark on a nationwide strike unless oil marketers are paid their subsidy claims.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent who went round the tank farms in Lagos yesterday also confirmed that the ongoing strike by the union has not extended to Lagos State yet as many of the tank farms as at yesterday were busy loading fuel. The union has however threatened that should the talks with the government fail, it will embark on a nationwide strike by Friday.
Some members of the union who spoke with our correspondent said that they are all on alert and waiting for instructions from the national executives of the union to stop work.
It was also noted that the Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners (JEPTFON) has not yet carried out its threat to embark on a nationwide strike as the tank farms visited were all in operation yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja said that NUPENG was collaborating with the wrong people, referring to the fuel subsidy cabal that has been milking Nigerians of billions of Naira in the past years.
According to her, “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 who has been meeting several stakeholders in the oil industry said that NUPENG was working for the interests of corrupt people.
She said that if NUPENG was interested in the welfare of Nigerians and the nation’s economy, it would join forces with government in stopping the impunity that has been associated with subsidy corruption which has even attracted public outcry.
She explained that a lot of progress has been made from the discussions between the federal government team and the oil marketers who have agreed to work with the government towards an efficient and transparent fuel distribution system, adding that the current administration will always insist on transparency in the interest of Nigerians. She, therefore, urged the public to stand with the government on this matter.