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ABUJA, Aug 1 (Reuters) - One of Nigeria's main oil and gas
trade unions on Thursday threatened to take industrial action
over a staffing dispute with Chevron CVX.N .
Nigeria, an OPEC member, is Africa's largest oil producer
and crude sales make up around 90% of foreign exchange in
Africa's largest economy. The dilapidated state of its
refineries means the country imports most of its refined fuel.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG) has accused U.S. oil major Chevron of sacking hundreds
of Nigerian workers and altering contracts, both of which it
said were in violation of an agreement.
The union, in a statement issued on Thursday, made a number
of demands which included the return to work of all "NUPENG
executives". It said 500 of its members had been removed from
their posts, although it was not clear if they were all
executives.
"Should Chevron Nigeria Limited and its contractors fail to
honour or comply with our demands within the next seven days, we
would also not hesitate to take all necessary legal options
available to us; including industrial actions," NUPENG's
national president said in the statement.
A Chevron spokesman said he was unable to provide immediate
comment.