Petroleum products in Nigeria have made Nigerians who are supposed to be beneficiaries to become sufferers because of incessant strike actions in the sector. This year 1st January was greeted sudden fuel subsidy removal. Indeed, Nigerians thought that the removal of the subsidy would ameliorate the living conditions of the citizenry. And that strike actions in the sector would not be too often as it was in the past. The subsidy remains a monster that would need collective effort to demystify. Its existence and emergence into the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
Nigerians have forgotten the terror and trauma of 1st January fuel subsidy removal tragedy. But the condition that made Federal Government of Nigeria to exercise such fiat has never given citizens of this great country a sigh of relief rather Nigerians keep hearing of drama or one thing or the other.
Today, oil workers in Abuja, the federal capital territory are observing a week long strike action as a result of the oil marketers not being able to pay them their salaries and allowances. Yes, the oil marketers are striking as a result of nonpayment of entitlements up with such action by stopping the payment of the oil workers salary. Based on the fact that the federal government has stopped the payment of subsidy money to them.
Subsidy has refused to die in the oil industry so far as it has been given birth to in the sector. Because it is difficult to remove sugar ants from sugar. It is a known fact that Nigerians suffer to purchase petroleum products. It is also a known fact that petroleum products are easily hoarded to cause unnecessary scarcity of the products. And those who suffer severely are the down trodden in the nation.
Thus, after the removal of fuel subsidy, official pump price of petrol was moved to 97 naira per litre. But some Nigerians who have enjoyed the rot in the system do not want Nigerians to even gain access to the product. It is a pity that there is no quarter in the year in Nigeria without a sudden fuel scarcity and kerosene. Nigerians have accepted the new price and about to forget the scourge of subsidy removal. But suddenly, Nigerians are made to scamper for petrol and kerosene again.
The oil workers strike in Abuja is about to engulf the whole nation again. What is wrong in Nigeria? The looming strike would only cause service scarcity of petroleum products and make citizens suffer an untold hardship. NUPENG and PENGASAN are threatening to join the strike action if the government does not pay the marketers for the oil workers before Thursday. It is an unfortunate condition in Nigeria. Infact this oil workers strike that is starting in Abuja, Port Harcourt will always be the worst hit city when it comes to petroleum products scarcity in Nigeria. By now every body thought subsidy issue should have been a thing of the past.
What is the need for this strike? When some members of organization of petroleum exporting countries do not easily go on strike as it is done in Nigeria. In Libya during their uprising there was no severe scarcity of petroleum products. But in Nigeria simple or common misunderstanding between the superior and the subordinate in oil industry can trigger a strike action that can cause scarcity of the products. In Iraq where they are bombing everyday, the oil industry is stable compared to what is happening in Nigeria. Everything leads to strike in Nigeria. This is because corruption is allowed to strive in the sector.
Indeed, oil industry dictates the life style in Nigeria. And that is why those in the sector seize the opportunity to cause hardship on Nigerians. During scarcity of petroleum products poor Nigerians are made poorer. Any strike in the oil sector affects movement of people from one part to the other. The petroleum products should be made to get to the reach of the every citizen of Nigeria.
Indeed, in Nigeria strike actions have unexplainable and unimaginable consequences on the teeming populace. Therefore, there is need for government and oil marketers to come to compromise to avoid another scarcity and untold hardship of the citizens. Let there be a legal frame work to handle the subsidy palaver in the country. Abuja oil workers strike should not be allowed to spread across the country. Therefore, measures should be taken by the federal government to curtail strike actions in Nigeria especially in the oil sector.
The down-stream and up stream sectors of the petroleum industry should be alive in their responsibilities in serving the nation. Strike action impoverishes the teeming populace and makes few millionaires overnight. Abuja oil workers strike should not be allowed to degenerate into a nation wide strike. The petroleum industry bill should be accented to by Mr. President without delay. Petroleum is not a curse but a blessing; therefore the reverse should be allowed to be the case. Let us do the right thing in order to avoid this looming strike.
Frank Eneawaji Ogwuonuonu
08028901682
