PIB: PENGASSAN Outlines Policy Thrust

The Petroleum and Natural gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has outlined its policy thrust for the effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) now before the National Assembly.

The policy thrust was outlined bythe PENGASSAN’S Chairman on PIB Policy thrust review Comrade Chika Onuegbu and made available to The Tide Comrade Onuegbu stated that PENGASSAN supports the PIB in principle provided certain conditions are fully met during the implementation of the PIB.

He said the PIB must have mandatory recognition of the right to freedom of association and effective collective bargaining by all companies operating or doing business in the country’s oil and gas industry irrespective of where such companies are located.

Comrade Chika Onuegbu who is also the state Chairman Trade Union Congress TUC and the National Industrial officer (PENGASSAN) said that the PIB must ensure that all companies operating in the country Oil and Gas industry comply with all international labour conventions ratified by the country.

He said collective agreements with the labour unions and the extant labour laws should be accorded priority of place by companies operating within the country’s Oil and gas industry as a minimum in all their dealings with the Nigerian workers and their representatives.

The Union Leader further said that all workers within the Nigerian national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other government agencies impacted by the PIB should be allowed to transit to the new companies/agencies on same terms and conditions.

Comrade Chika said the union demand for proper arrangements in the PIB to ensure that the liquidities of the NNPC and other agencies to their staff such as pensions to retired and existing employees are adequately provided for prior to the effective commencement date of the PIB to avoid the unnecessary controversy as witnessed in the Power sector.

He challenged stakeholders in the oil and Gas industry to ensure that companies operating in the Oil and Gas industry do not use the PIB as a ploy to disengage Nigerians.

Comrade Chika called for the strengthening of Nigerian content Act and policies as its relates to Labour training and Manpower development.

It would be recalled that the PIB Taskforce was set up in January 2012 under the Chairmanship of Senator Udo Udoma to produce new version of the PIB.

The federal Government later set up the technical Committee headed by the Director Petroleum Resources (DPR) Osten Olorunsola to review the PIB.

However the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the PIB in July 2012 and thereafter submitted to the National Assembly where public hearing will soon be called on the PIB.

Philip Okparaji