PENGASSAN Threatens Strike …Gives FG 7-Day Notice

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had given seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demand or face industrial action.
The PENGASSAN General Secretary, Mr Bayo Olowoshile, gave the notice at the end of its meeting in Lagos on Thursday.
The grievances are; migration of permanent jobs to contract and outsource labour to deny Nigerians the rights and benefits of full employment and commensurate compensations in the Oil and Gas Sector.
“We are also not happy that the government is paying lip service toward effective integration and compliance with the ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, as an integral part of Nigerian extant laws,’’ he said.
The PENGASSAN scribe said the union was unhappy over the exclusion of the union in the recently constituted committee addressing the reported case on pipeline sabotage and oil thefts issues.
He said that the resultant divestment decision and imminent job loses triggered by oil theft and bunkering, coupled with unchecked illegal refining activities, should be resolved.
“Indecision around new and ongoing projects and investment flights considerations resulting from government’s delay in passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, is also a problem,’’ he said.
Olowoshile said it was the duty of the government to tackle the problem of illegal bunkering and oil theft to sustain development in the oil sector.
“It is our duty as labour to boost the confidence of the existing and potential investors who yearn for enabling environment for the existing and future business interests and projects lest the nation misses investment opportunities to the detriment of all and sundry.’’
He urged the government to fund the Department of Petroleum Resources as well as harmonise the nomenclature of agencies and institutions among NNPC.