Angered by the continued delay in passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), among other issues, in the sector, oil workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have concluded plans to shut down oil and gas installations nationwide in protest.
The oil workers are protesting against what they termed anti-labour activities of some employers in the sector and retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
Other issues are non-standardisation of nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) in line with what obtains in other agencies in the oil and gas industry, alleged refusal of the management of Addax/Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/Sudelletra to recall sacked staff, alleged Petrobras management unprocedural release of staff and its refusal to renew expired collective agreement, “unjust termination of appointment of the Port Harcourt zonal secretary and treasurer of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, respectively”, perilous state of the nation’s strategic and industrial roads and highways, non-beneficial deductions of National Housing Fund (NHF) from our workers”.
“Un-abating measures of addressing pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, and divestments by international oil companies (IOCs) without clear guidelines to check the resultant arbitrary job losses, heightening insecurity of our members/families in the troubled parts of Northern Nigeria.”
According to a statement issued by PENGASSAN national secretariat on Sunday, “Plans are at the final stage with its sister union, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to mobilise members for a nationwide industrial action that will disrupt operations in the oil and gas sector until the Federal Government shows genuine intention to earnestly attend and resolve the enumerated issues at stake.”
