Oil workers suspend strike

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said it has suspended its strike after the intervention by the Director of DSS, Lawal Daura, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and Neconde Energy management.

According to a message from the association’s national Public Relations Officer, Fortune Obi, legal consultants to Neconde have offered a letter of recall to the sacked employees of the company.

The management also agreed to allow the union to exist in the company.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity as well as the union therefore agreed to endeavour to resolve anti-union posture by other indigenous companies and marginal field operators.

A meeting has been fixed for second week of January 2018 to look into the issues.

PENGASSAN’s leadership had last week issued a sevenday ultimatum over antilabour posture and practices by some indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators and termination of employment of any workers at will.

The union particularly accused Neconde Energy Ltd of infringement on workers’ rights to freedom of association which it said led to mass sack of workers that joined it and dehumanisation of same in total disregard to rule of engagement and the laws of the land.

“Having explored all options without getting the necessary understanding, and an apparent failure of relevant authorities of government to call to order these recalcitrant organisations, especially Neconde, PENGASSAN gives the Federal Government and its relevant agencies seven (7) days’ notice to embark on nationwide strike effective December 18, 2017 if it fails to direct the management of Neconde and other companies to recall our sacked members as the only option to address this injustice and lawlessness,” it said.