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PENGASSAN Begins 3-Day Warning Strike
Managing Director, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma (right) congratulating the vice chairman of Maritime Workers Union. Rivers State Council, Comrade Godwin Dominic at the 2014 NIWA safety awareness campaign, at Port Harcourt NIWA Dockyard, Marine Base while General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIWA, Mr Tayo Fadile (middle) watch. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petoleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) began a three-day warning strike today, over anti-labour practices in the oil and gas sector of the nation’s economy.
The anti-labour activities listed by the oil workers include unjust delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, non-standardisation of nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency in line with what obtains in other agencies in the oil and gas industry, refusal of the Management of Addax/Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/Sudelletra to recall sacked staff, Petrobras management’s unprocedural release of staff and its refusal to renew expired Collective Agreement, the unjust termination of the appointment of the Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary and Treasurer of PENGASSAN and NUPENG respectively
Oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have concluded plans to shut down all oil and gas installations in the country due to the anti-labour activities of some employers in the sector.
The anti-labour activities listed by the oil workers include unjust delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, non-standardisation of nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency in line with what obtains in other agencies in the oil and gas industry, refusal of the Management of Addax/Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/Sudelletra to recall sacked staff, Petrobras management’s unprocedural release of staff and its refusal to renew expired Collective Agreement, the unjust termination of the appointment of the Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary and Treasurer of PENGASSAN and NUPENG respectively.
Other issues are the perilous state of the nation’s strategic and industrial roads and highways, non-beneficial deductions of National Housing Fund from workers, un-abating measures of addressing pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft and divestments by International Oil Companies without clear guidelines to check the resultant arbitrary job losses, heightening insecurity of PENGASSAN members/families in the troubled parts of Northern Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by the PENGASSAN Secretariat on Sunday, plans are at the final stage with its sister union, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, to mobilise members for a nationwide industrial action that will disrupt operations in the oil and gas sector until the Federal Government showed genuine intention to earnestly attend to and resolve the issues.
PENGASSAN noted that the 14-day ultimatum given by its National Executive Council meeting of October 30, 2014 to the Federal Government and other concerned employers’ and agencies and further ratified by the Joint NEC of both NUPENG and PENGASSAN on October 31, 2014, had since expired without any meaningful resolution or commitment from either the government or the concerned employers’ and agencies at resolving the issues.
The statement hinted that all levels of the Union have been fully sensitized and mobilised for the inevitable industrial actions that will affect every value chain in the upstream, midstream and downstream of the oil and gas industry.
The union explained that the purported termination of the appointment of its Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary, the Nupeng Zonal Treasurer was an ill-conceived act of victimization by their employers and which the NNPC, Federal Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Labour and Productivity, the Department of State Services, the Department of Petroleum Resources have advised the company’s management against, but remained unbending.
On crude oil theft and acts of vandalism, PENGASSAN alleged high level collaboration of the security agencies, politicians and highly placed Nigerians in the buccaneering racket of oil and gas installations and the resultant crude oil theft, adding that the ugly trend signifies a looming extinction of the oil and gas industry with attendant job losses.
This further endangers the national economy with the persistent drop in crude oil prices, the union said.
The association called on the Federal Government to mobilise contractors to site for immediate repair of all perilous roads leading to all oil and gas installations in the country, especially the Shaguolo/Alternative Road to the PPMC depot in Warri, Delta State; Eleme/Onne Road, in Rivers State; Apapa/Ijora/Wharf Road and Tin Can Island Road, both in Lagos State; and the Port Harcourt/Enugu Road.
The association described the deduction from workers’ salaries for the National Housing Fund as sheer exploitation and demanded that the deduction should be stopped forthwith, saying that it would be forced to resort to whatever necessary labour action it deems appropriate to protect its members from further exploitation of the non-beneficial policies that has served no member’s interest in the sector.
The national body of the apex union in the oil and gas industry have also mobilised its members to various Internally Displaced Persons’ centres across the nations to deliver relief materials and alternative conditions of living, especially for women and children.
It stressed that anything short of purposeful dialogue to resolving the issues will spark the fully mobilized action.
The Association’s position was made known by Comrade Igwe Achese, the Chairman of the Joint Council of NUPENGASSAN.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
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Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.