BENIN CITY- Benin residents yesterday urged the Federal Government and striking oil workers to resolve their differences and save the nation from the hardship associated with fuel scarcity.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) are on a three-day nationwide strike.
The two unions are billed to meet with Federal Government representatives, the Ministry of Labour, to resolve the impasse.
Mrs Beatrice Osemudiamen told newsmen that the strike was capable of ruining the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
She said though it was a warning strike, concerted efforts should be made by all the parties involved to ensure that it did not degenerate to a full-blown strike.
Mr John Omoruyi said it was unfortunate that the citizenry were made to face hardship associated with fuel scarcity virtually every Christmas.
“It is now a trend that about this period of every year the people will face the challenge of fuel scarcity.
“The most painful aspect of it is that it is a period when the people travel to be with their loved ones,” he said.
It would be recalled that the PENGASSAN had issued a three-day warning strike over issues bordering on workers and the sector.
However, the NNPC has assured that the strike will not affect distribution and sale of the product across the country.
A pump attendant who simply identified himself as Igbinosa told newsmen that his filling station ran out of stock on Monday.
He said they were waiting to re-stock, though he could not say when the stock would arrive.
Queues, which became visible in most filling stations on Monday, worsened yesterday as motorists struggled to get the petroleum products.
Though the fuel stations have maintained the official price of N95 per litre it was clear that most of the popular stations have ran out of the product.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega station on Sapele road stopped sales since on Monday afternoon.
