We'll Shut Oil Sector in 7 Days If... - PENGASSAN Threatens Imminent Shutdown

(File photo) Workers carrying placards during a protest demanding that the FG to reinstate prices of fuel at N86.50.

 

According to a statement signed by Emmanuel Ojugbana, the public relations officer (PRO) of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the union has threatened to shut the nation’s oil sector over alleged anti-labour practices by employers.

 

PENGASSAN who has threatened to shut the nation’s oil sector over the dismissal of some of its members, handed down a 7-day ultimatum to federal government to call the affected employers to order after which it would direct oil workers to withdraw their services and shut down the sector.

 

PENGASSAN, said despite agreement reached between the ministry of labour and employment, some employers still went ahead to sever employment of some workers.

 

“Despite the agreement that employers should put on hold redundancy in the industry, some managements such as Fugro, Universal Energy, Frontier Services and Petrostuff went ahead to sack many of our members including key union officers and national officer.

“I want to reiterate our demands that the federal government and the concern organisations, including H15, IEME Chevron, Universal Energy, Chevron Contracts Tecon and Avion Oil and Fugro should resolve the critical industrial relation issues in their companies; particularly in the recent retrenchment in Fugro and Petrostuff should be reversed.

“Let us state unequivocally that industrial peace in the oil and gas sector will not be guaranteed if these issues, especially the retrenchment in Fugro, are not resolved within seven (7) days effective Monday, June 20, 2016.

“As a major stakeholder in the oil and gas industry, we are again calling on the NAPIMS to put in place a clear policy statement against frequent redundancy plans by operators under the guise of fluctuating crude oil prices,” Ojugbana said in a statement.

 

Ojugbana added that apart from the arrears, the current cash call are delayed and even when paid, it is much below approved cash call without consideration of JV commitment including staff salaries.

“The effect of non-payment has led to thousands of job losses across the sectors and non-creation of new jobs against the backdrop of the electoral promises of employment generation by the current government. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.

 

Other industrial issues raised by the Association include, the review of the lingering irregular Joint Venture funding and Cash Call payment arrears, lack of a clear cut direction on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), and forceful co-option of government agencies in the industry into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).