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PENGASSAN Strike In Nation’s Interest – TUC

Published

10 years ago

July 11, 2016

The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, has said that the nationwide strike, embarked upon by members of the Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) was in the best interest of Nigerians.
The Tide recalls that last Friday, oil workers across the country, embarked on strike to protest the non-payment of over $7billion joint venture cash call obligations to oil multinationals by the Federal Government, the mass sack of workers by oil companies, insecurity in the work environment as a result of militants’ attacks, among other issues.
Onuegbu, a staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, whose tenure elapses as TUC chairman in Rivers State on July 21, 2016, said this in Port Harcourt while fielding questions from journalists over the effectiveness of the industrial action.
The TUC chairman, who was PENGASSAN’s immediate past national industrial relations officer (NIRO), stated that the refusal of the Federal Government to offset it’s share of $7billion liabilities in the joint venture agreement with the oil and gas companies had led to the unprecedented sack of workers in the industry in the last couple of months.
He said: “The actions of government are having greater consequences on the economy. Government has not offset the liabilities of over $7billion owed the joint venture partners in the oil and gas industry.
“Our people working in the oil and gas industry are being sacked. By government, not being able to invest in the oil and gas industry, the returns in the oil and gas industry has reduced, and because of that, the allocation to the federation account is going down,” he added.
Meanwhile, The Tide reports that there has been total compliance of PENGASSAN members with the directive to embark on an indefinite strike since last Friday.
In Port Harcourt, the strike was hugely successful, as many members were not in their offices.
When The Tide visited some of the companies, especially NNPC office on Moscow Road, the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) at Alesa-Eleme, Shell Industrial Area at Rumuobiakani, and Total Complex in Trans Amadi, PENGASSAN officials were seen blocking the main gates to their office premises, with no activity inside.
At the NNPC depot in Port Harcourt, the management of the depot initially tried to use industrial trainees (IT) and contract staff to load/offload fuel trucks, but before noon, the leadership of the depot was called to order and the loading was stopped.
Some of the PENGASSAN leaders, who spoke to The Tide, confirmed that their members fully complied with the directive of the national leadership to embark on strike, insisting that the purported reports that the union was to put the strike on hold until after a meeting with Federal Government representatives today, were only part of ‘propaganda’ by those spreading it.
At the Warri zone, there was total compliance except for members in Chevron who had reported to work before 7am but later joined by vacating their offices around before 10 a.m.
“There was no lifting of petroleum products in Warri or anywhere in the zone as our members fully complied with the strike directive,” a PENGASSAN official said.
In Abuja, few members of the association who reported for duty early in the morning were turned back from the NNPC Towers, except for NUPENG members and management staff who went about their normal duties.
A release issued by the National Public Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, stated that there was total compliance in government agencies, as the staff stayed away from their offices.
At the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEFMB) headquarters, virtually all offices were locked.
Ojugbana said: “Members of the association in Lagos also stayed away from their offices, and there was no lifting of petroleum products at the depots and loading bays.
“Even those at the jetties and other critical sections where crude are lifted in Port Harcourt and Lagos also abandoned their duty posts.
“In Kaduna, there was total compliance with the strike directive as members stayed out of their offices.
“Most offices in the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) were empty and there was no lifting of petroleum products from the depots.
“We commend the support of our NUPENG members here who supported PENGASSAN in ensuring that there was total compliance.”
Ojugbana confirmed full compliance by members, saying that the strike is not only about the members of the association but about the survival of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
He said: “The inability of the government to fund the Joint Venture (JV) operations and settle cash call arrears has denied the country of new investments while the existing operations and activities are being stalled.
“This has resulted in lack of new job opportunities while our members who have been in employments are losing their jobs because their employers could not meet their salary obligations to them.
“The union demands the immediate action of government to address the challenge of funding/cash call arrears to avoid the imminent collapse of the industry.
“The government must provide feasible guidelines to clear all outstanding payments going forward and evolve a pragmatic system of funding the Joint Venture (JV) operations,” he said.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhaha

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Tinubu Hails NGX N100trn Milestones, Urges Nigerians To Invest Locally

Published

53 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated the Nigerian Exchange Group’s breakthrough into the N100tn market capitalisation threshold, saying Nigeria has moved from an ignored frontier market to a compelling investment destination.

Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the domestic economy, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver stronger returns as ongoing reforms take firmer root.

He noted that the NGX closed 2025 with a 51.19 per cent return, outperforming global indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several BRICS+ emerging markets, after recording 37.65 per cent in 2024.

“With the Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100tn market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” Tinubu said.

He attributed the stellar performance to Nigerian companies proving they can deliver strong investment returns across all sectors, from blue-chip industrials localising supply chains to banks demonstrating technological innovation.

The President added, “Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and even many of our emerging-market peers in the BRICS+ group. Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored—it is now a compelling destination where value is being discovered.”

Tinubu disclosed that more indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecoms operators and infrastructure firms are preparing to list on the exchange, a move he said would deepen market capitalisation and broaden economic participation.

He also cited what he described as a sustained decline in inflation over eight months—from 34.8 per cent in December 2024 to 14.45 per cent in November 2025—projecting that the rate would fall below 10 per cent before the end of 2026.

“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year, leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth. The year 2026 promises to be an epochal year for delivering prosperity to all Nigerians,” he said.

The President attributed the trend to monetary tightening, elimination of Ways and Means financing, and agricultural investments, which he said helped stabilise the naira and ease post-reform pressures.

Nigeria’s current account surplus reached $16bn in 2024, with the Central Bank projecting $18.81bn in 2026, reflecting a trade pattern shift toward exporting more and importing less locally-producible goods.

Non-oil exports jumped 48 per cent to N9.2tn by the third quarter of 2025, with African exports nearly doubling to N4.9tn. Manufacturing exports grew 67 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter.

Foreign reserves have crossed $45bn and are expected to breach $50 billion in the first quarter, giving the CBN ammunition to maintain currency stability and end the volatility that previously fuelled speculation, according to the President.

Tinubu also highlighted infrastructure expansion in rail networks, arterial roads, port revitalisation, and the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities that are reducing medical tourism costs, and increased university research grants funded through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

“Our medicare facilities are improving, and medical tourism costs are declining. Our students benefit from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and universities are receiving increased research grants,” he said.

He described nation-building as a process requiring hard work, sacrifices, and citizen focus, pledging to continue working to build an egalitarian, transparent, and high-growth economy catalysed by historic tax and fiscal reforms that came into full implementation from January 1.

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RSG Kicks Off Armed Forces Remembrance Day ‘Morrow …Restates Commitment Towards Veterans’ Welfare

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment towards the welfare of veterans, serving officers and widows of fallen officers in the State.

?The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, in a statement by ?Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, SSG’s ?Office, ?Juliana Masi, stated this during the Central Planning meeting of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

?Anabraba thanked the Committee for their contributions to the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently held in the State and called on them to double their efforts so that the State can record resounding success in the remaining activities.

?According to him, the remembrance day events will begin with Jumaàt Prayers on Friday, 9th January at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township, while a Humanitarian Outreach/Family and Community Day will be hosted on Saturday, 10th January, by the wife of the governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, for widows and veterans.

?”On Sunday, 11th January, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township while the Grand-finale Wreath- Laying Ceremony will hold on Thursday, 15th January at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph, Port Harcourt”, he said.

?The SSG noted that one of the highlights of the events is the laying of wreaths by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Heads of the Security Agencies.

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Fubara Redeploys Green As Commissioner For Justice

Published

1 week ago

December 30, 2025

The Tide

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council.

Under the new disposition, Barrister Christopher Green, who until now served as Commissioner for Sports, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Justice as the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

This is contained in an official statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.

According to the statement, Barrister Green will also continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner to oversee the ministry.

The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, was approved at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year 2025, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to strengthening governance, ensuring continuity in service delivery, and optimising the performance of key ministries within the state.