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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.
The National Coordinator of Embedded Ai -EU Erasmus Project in Nigeria, Prof. Bourdillon Omijeh, has commended the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Rivers State Government for their strategic partnership in organizing the Job Fair 2026.
The Job Fair with theme: “Addressing Youth Employability for Prosperity,” took place at Obi International Conference Center, Port Harcourt, last week.
Speaking as Special Guest, Professor Omijeh stated that result-oriented human capital development and trainings focused on relevant skills is the most effective solution to reducing the high rate of graduate unemployment in Rivers State.
He noted that Nigeria is firmly in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), driven by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and 5G.
According to him, these emerging technologies offer enormous employment and entrepreneurial opportunities across critical sectors, including agriculture, power, Telecommunication, oil and gas, healthcare, and security.
He emphasized the growing shift from job seeking to job creation, explaining that youths equipped with 4IR skills can become innovators, solution providers, and founders of startups and new industries.
Professor Omijeh further stated that Nigeria is richly endowed with talented youths capable of competing globally when properly empowered with the right skills, support, and enabling environment.
He called for sustained collaboration between government, the private sector, and educational institutions to build a future-ready workforce and drive inclusive economic growth in Rivers State.
To the over 4000 teeming youths present, Professor Omijeh said, according to Bill Gate, that “Being born poor is not a fault, but remaining poor in a world of opportunity and skills is a responsibility that must be consciously addressed.
“Don’t allow your current circumstances define your destiny. There’s a seed of greatness in you. Sieze any and every opportunity to develop yourself and acquire the requisite skills.
He passionately urged the Rivers State Government to intentionally invest and fund result-oriented training programmes through the strategic Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment and Ministry of Youth Development to increase employability and reduce the rate of graduate unemployment in Rivers State.
He thanked the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honorable Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Chisom K. Gbali, for this laudable initiative with NECA.
Professor Bourdillon Omijeh is the National Coordinator of the Embedded Artificial Intelligence (EAI) -EU Erasmus Project in Nigeria; Immediate Past Director of Centre for Information and Telecommunication Engineering Uniport, NCC-Chair Occupant on ICT Uniport; TensorFlow four (4) times award winner on Capacity building on Ai & ML -(2021-2024), CEO-Bourdillon Omijeh Foundation.
As a Professional Mentor, he has facilitated the training of thousands of youths on 4IR- Skills with relevant certifications and evidential engagements.
Follow Prof Bourdillon Omijeh on LinkedIn.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has urged youths in the state to take advantage of the vast opportunities available to become employers of labour and contribute meaningfully to growth and development.
Fubara said global trends increasingly favour entrepreneurship and innovation, stressing that youths in Rivers State must not be left behind in harnessing such opportunities.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, the governor stated this while declaring open the 2026 Job Fair organised by the Rivers State Government in partnership with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Speaking on the theme, “Addressing Youth Employability for Prosperity,” the governor acknowledged the responsibility of government to create jobs for its teeming youth population but noted that it was unrealistic to absorb all job seekers into the civil service.
“As a government, we recognise our duty to provide employment opportunities for our teeming youths. However, we also understand that not all youths can be accommodated within the civil service.
“This underscores the need to encourage entrepreneurship across diverse sectors and to partner with other stakeholders, including the youths themselves, so they can transition from being job seekers to employers of labour,” he said.
Fubara further urged participants to continually sharpen their skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment and the global space through digital platforms.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and providing an enabling environment for youths to develop their potential and thrive.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr Chisom Gbali, said the job fair was designed to equip youths with contemporary skills, innovation and mentorship needed to transform them from unemployable to resourceful individuals.
Gbali disclosed that the ministry had rolled out various training and capacity-building programmes in areas such as ICT and artificial intelligence, oil and gas, maritime, and the blue economy.
Delivering the keynote address, the Head of the Department of Human Resources Management, Rivers State University, Dr Chris Biriowu, advised participants to remain informed about evolving sources of employability.
He said the labour market was dynamic and shaped by industry-specific demands, technological advancement, management practices and other emerging factors.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, has poured accolades on late Amayanabo of Opobo, HRM Dandeson Douglas Jaja V, saying his footprints went beyond the State.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the wife of the late king, Prof. Odu said the late monarch contributed meaningfully beyond the shores of Rivers State.
“He contributed not only to Opobo, not only to Rivers State, but to Nigeria as a nation. We all know the various positions he held until his passing. For us as a Commission, we are really going to miss him greatly, especially at this time when his guidance was most needed,” she stressed.
She described the late king as a distinguished traditional ruler whose life and service contributed immensely to the development of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
The deputy governor, who also serves as Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Commission, noted that until his demise, King Jaja was an Ex-Officio member of the Commission, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District.
According to her, the late monarch actively participated in several meetings of the Commission and played an important advisory role.
“He actually participated with us in a couple of meetings. It was with great shock that we received the news of his passing. We saw daddy as someone who was very strong, healthy and athletic,” Prof. Odu said.
Prof. Odu explained that the Commission relied heavily on the wisdom of traditional rulers like the late monarch to ensure that its responsibilities were carried out properly and conscientiously.
She assured the family of the Commission’s continued support, saying they will remain close to the family throughout the burial arrangements and beyond.
Addressing the widow, Queen Prudence Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Prof. Odu said the visit was to commiserate with her and encourage her during the period of mourning.
“Please accept our condolences. Please be strong and put your hope in God. The God who watches over widows will never abandon you,” the deputy governor prayed.
“We cannot question God. What has happened has happened. All we can do is to pull ourselves together. That is why we are here to pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen you, that God will turn your sadness into joy and clothe you with a garment of beauty,” she added.
Responding, Queen Jaja described her late husband as a gentle, humble man who was deeply committed to the progress of Rivers State, and Nigeria at large.
She expressed gratitude to the deputy governor and other members of the Boundary Commission for identifying with the family in their moment of grief.
“We are praying that his soul will rest in perfect peace. I thank you very much for coming to console me at this trying moment. Seeing you here has given me comfort. God bless each and every one of you,” she said.
She also offered prayers for the delegation, wishing them a long life and good health.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation Letter of Condolence from the Rivers State Boundary Commission to Queen Jaja.
Kevin Nengia
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