PENGASSAN, NUPENG Put Strike On Hold …Meet FG, July 11

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) have postponed the meeting with Federal Government over their planned strike till July 11.
Following the development, the unions have put the planned strike on hold.
The South West Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, made this known in an interview with newsmen, yesterday in Lagos.
According to Korodo, the meeting which was scheduled to take place yesterday was shifted due to public holiday, declared by the Federal Government to mark the Eid-El-Fitr.
The chairman, who is one of NUPENG’s representatives, said that both parties had agreed to meet on Monday, July 11, to deliberate on the issues affecting the unions.
“As a result of this, we have to put the strike, which is supposed to commence today (Thursday) on hold to allow for useful deliberations with the government representatives,” he said.
He said that the unions were aware of hardship the strike would cause the general public, adding that this was why the unions had agreed to meet with the federal Government.
Korodo, however, said that the unions would have no choice than to embark on strike, if government did not address labour issues affecting members.
Our source reports that PENGASSAN had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike beginning from July 7 over some issues, including the alleged mass sacking of its members by various oil and gas companies, occasioned by the non-release of government’s cash-call obligations to the companies for years running.
It was gathered that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, was scheduled to meet with representatives of PENGASSAN, yesterday, according to a statement issued on Wednesday, in Abuja.
The statement, signed by the Deputy Director (Press) in the Ministry of Labour, Mr Samuel Olowookere, said that the “crucial meeting” was being convened to find a lasting solution to problems in the oil and gas sector.
It said that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu was also to attend the meeting.
“The meeting will hold at the Minister’s Board Room, 11th floor, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC Towers, Abuja starting at 10 a.m,’’ it said.
The statement said the ministers had appealed to the entire leadership of PENGASSAN to stay action on its proposed strike in view of the on-going negotiations and in the spirit of social dialogue.