Ishaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health has raised alarm over a planned strike action by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Salako said the strike action if carried out would severely affect several hospitals across Nigeria due to their heavy reliance on generators.
Recall that NUPENG had on Friday announced its plan to embark on a strike action over some differences with Dangote and his drivers.
The union is protesting the action by the Dangoge Refinery preventing its compressed natural gas (CNG) tanker drivers from joining labour unions.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Salako appealed to both parties involved to sheathe their swords.
He said ordinary Nigerians would be the ones to bear the brunt of the strike action especially those receiving one form of medical attention or the other in various hospitals of the country.
“My comment is to appeal to both parties to allow reason to prevail; the ordinary citizen must be at the centre of the discussion. As rightly observed, any strike by NUPENG will certainly disrupt a lot of things, economic activities and social activities. So, we don’t want a strike.
“I’d just appeal that a balance needs to be reached. Dangote is playing an important role in the economy, trying to improve our domestic capacities. There is also the right to associate and unionise, but that must be balanced.”