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Another round of uncertainty
has hit Nigeria`s petroleum sector as
workers in the Department of Petroleum Resources
,DPR said they have commenced an indefinite strike
action on Wednesday.The strike is in protest against the
appointment of a foreign firm, Golbart as
the sole pre-shipment agency for oil exports from
Nigeria.Sources said the strike began following the
failure of the Federal Government to terminate the
appointment of Golbart despite the 21 day ultimatum
given by DPR workers` union.The strike, the workers
claimed ,commenced at the end of the ultimatum.
Nigeria`s oil industry has been in a
quandary for some time now.The crisis in the Niger Delta
characterized by sabotage of oil installations,
kidnappings and all has been a major challenge for the
government.The global financial meltdown coupled with
the crisis in the international oil market has put
Nigeria in a bind.Already, Federal and state
governments are embarking on austerity measures starting
with the slashing of salaries of political office
holders as revenues dwindle.There were fears that the
strike by DPR workers if not quickly addressed may
further compound Nigeria`s woes because it will shut
down oil terminals across the country.
But the claim by DPR workers that
they are on strike was punctured by a top official of
the DPR branch of PENGASSAN.Comrade Raymond Akpan, the
Chairman of PENGASSAN ,DPR branch reportedly said
workers would be at their places of work tomorrow(
Thursday) contrary to claims by workers that they are
staying away from work.Similarly, Comrade Peter
Akpatason,national chairman of NUPENG said any oil
worker on strike now is on his own as no directive has
been issued for such yet.He vehemently
denied reports that NUPENG members have commenced an
indefinite strike on Wednesday.Akpatason said the
reports are untrue .
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