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The current fuel shortage leading to long queues at filling stations across the country may be further compounded following a nationwide strike notice issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
If nothing is done to avert the strike, Nigerians will have to pay higher for any service this festive period as transporters are bound to increase their fares. This will also impact heavily on prices of foodstuff as traders will pass on higher transport cost of moving goods, to the end users.
Already, as a result of the fuel shortage, commercial motorists are resorting to buying from the black market at a price higher than government’s regulated rate of N45 per litre of petrol.
The senior oil workers have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government which they say will culminate in shutting down all oil and gas installations, including disruptions to fuel supply and distribution, across the country effective Monday December 18, 2017.
According to the union, the planned strike is to protest what it termed “unfair labour practices and seemingly untamable posture of some indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators.”
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Lumumba Okugbawa, its general secretary, the union condemned indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators, and listed some of the anti-labour practices to include the termination of the employment of workers who indicated willingness to belong to the union.
“Those who are threatened and compelled to disown the union are then treated as slave workers within their own country,” it added.
The union, which cited a case with Neconde Energy Ltd (of Nestoil Group of companies), alleged an infringement on workers’ rights to freedom of association, leading to mass sack of workers that joined the union and dehumanisation of same in total disregard to rule of engagement and the laws of the land.
“The actions of companies such as Neconde in mass sack of Nigerian workers contribute in no small measure to the unending militancy in the Niger Delta. This company has not only conducted itself as being above extant laws and regulations guiding the operations of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, but has also severally boasted that no government agency can call it to order.
It was therefore no surprise that Neconde defied multiple interventions from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the top management of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) for the company to toe the path of law and order and comply with Nigerian labour laws,” the union alleged.
The union said having explored all options without getting the necessary understanding, and an apparent failure of relevant authorities of government to intervene, the union is left with no other option than to call out workers on nationwide strike.
“PENGASSAN hereby giving the Federal Government and its relevant agencies seven days’ notice to embark on nationwide strike effective December 18, 2017 if she fails to direct the management of Neconde and other companies to recall our sacked members as the only option to address this injustice and lawlessness.
“PENGASSAN appeals to all Nigerians to show understanding and to use this window to stockpile adequate quantity of premium motor spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products that will last them during the upcoming festive period as this strike will be indefinite,” the union said.
JOSHUA BASSEY
