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Some residents of Nsukka in Enugu State have appealed to both the federal government and the striking oil workers?to bend backwards and reach an agreement.
The residents, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday,?said this would help to avert a nationwide strike.
They said any nationwide strike at the moment?would further impoverish the masses in the country.
NAN?reports that members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have been on strike over the payment of outstanding subsidy arrears.
Few days into the strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NUPENG has gone on to be calling for the strike’s extension to other parts of the country on Thursday.
Mr James??Nnaji, a civil servant, said any strike at the moment Nigeria was going through security challenges would put more pressure on security agents, and would adversely?affect Nigeria's economy.
“Government should do everything possible to meet NUPENG's demands?today, for it to shelve the proposed strike.
“Any nationwide strike, now that the country is struggling to contain the security challenges, will have adverse effect on the economy.
“The proposed strike, if allowed, will bring the economy to a?standstill, since the?transport sector will be paralysed.
“NUPENG officials should, in the interest of the country, shun attempts by some `money bags’ to use them to achieve their selfish desires.
“The union should embrace dialogue, instead of embarking on a nationwide strike that will bring more hardship to Nigerians,’’ he said.
Mr Charles Onah, a?commercial bus driver, said NUPENG should consider the suffering its action would bring upon many Nigerians.
“Strike is not the best option. I plead with the union to avoid anything that will overheat the already heated polity.
“Some of us feed our families and train our children as commercial bus drivers.
“Now we are struggling to get money to enable our children go back to school in September. Any nationwide strike will be a setback to us and members of our families.
“NUPENG should consider the plight the strike will have on the?masses in the country. It should please cancel the proposed nationwide strike,’’ he said.
Mrs Vivian Agbo, a secondary school teacher, said continuing the NUPENG?strike would not be in the best interest of the majority of Nigerians.
She urged both the federal government and NUPENG to urgently resolve their differences.
“We should understand that anything that affects fuel affects everybody.
“Since government has started paying subsidy fees to some oil marketers, I see no reason why the issue of a?nationwide strike should arise.
“Every Nigerian should understand that this country belongs to all of us, and should avoid anything that will overheat the polity and paralyse the economy.
“I plead with NUPENG to consider the interest of about 160 million Nigerians, who will face extra suffering in the event of the strike.
“Everybody should assist the government to take this country to the?next level,’’ Agbo said. (NAN)