Press Release
The United Progressive Party (UPP) Federal Capital Territory Senatorial Candidate Chief (Mrs) Fidel Orji has urged striking oil workers to embrace dialogue with the Federal Government with a view to addressing their grievances.
The strike has adversely affected economic activities in the country especially in Abuja over demand by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for quick passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the poor state of the nation’s refineries and failure of the Federal Government to reduce the pump price of petroleum following falling price of oil in the global market.
These are legitimate issues that could be effectively resolved through dialogue with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Petroleum Resources. I urge the striking workers to take advantage of government’s desire to resolve the grievances in order to end the hardship being experienced by commuters which would further worsen the economy.
The strike is ill-timed at this Christmas season when many families would travel to meet their loved ones across the country.
I urge the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill aimed at transforming the nation’s oil sector.
It is time for patriotism. It is time to build a new Nigeria of our dream as we gallantly march into 2015 general election to elect competent leaders that will lead the citizenry into the Promised Land.
If elected Senator of the Federal Republic in 2015, I will ensure immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill that will uplift, reform and revive the oil sector that has been neglected by past governments in the country.
As a mass movement, UPP feels the pulse of the people and is strongly determined to provide dividends of democracy to our long-suffering compatriots especially in my constituency, the Federal Capital Territory.
Chief (Mrs) Fidel Orji
FCT Senatorial Candidate, UPP
