Wednesday, 19 May 2021: The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), has alerted its members to be ready for shutdown if attacks on peaceful protesters continue in Kaduna State.

NUPENG is one of the 46 industrial unions affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The National President of the NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, in a statement to journalists in Kaduna said its members are “deeply saddened with the violent turn of NLC peaceful protests by the dictatorial and despotic regime of Governor Nasir el-Rufai in Kaduna State”.

CEOAFRICA reports how armed thugs disrupted a procession by members of the NLC who were on a peaceful protest in Kaduna State on Tuesday.

The NLC is protesting the planned layoff of hundreds of workers by the state government, which it (state) had termed ‘rightsizing’ and has vowed not to back off from.

The protesters were marching around the NEPA roundabout in the Kaduna metropolis when the thugs pelted them with objects.

The workers had gathered at the location in preparation for the continuation of their protest, when the thugs invaded the area and violently dispersed them.

An infuriated state governor, Mr. el-Rufai, later declared the NLC leader, Ayuba Wabba wanted and equally placed a ‘bounty’ on him.
NUPENG’s threat

“The Leadership of the Union is therefore calling on the Federal Government to immediately call on Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to order before his arrogance and power drunk ego further push the situation into horrendous calamity as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing, the statement said.