PENGASSAN suspends its strike action

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) has suspended its strike action which started today,
December 18th. The suspension of the strike was contained in a
press statement released by the General Secretary of the union,
Lumumba Okugbawa.
The oil union had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government,
following allegations of the anti-union attitude of some companies,
as well as the intimidation and dismissal of some of its members.
Okungbawa said the union suspended the industrial action after the
intervention of the Federal Government and the reversal of the
decision by the companies.
Read the full statement below;
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN) issued a seven (7) day ultimatum
which expired on Sunday, December 17, 2017, with respect
to anti-union posture of indigenous companies and marginal
field operators, including Neconde which transferred
employees at will and inconsiderably, sacked and intimidated
union members.
Despite all entreaties by the association, the management
of Neconde was recalcitrant and adamant. As a matter of
fact, the union directed its members across zones to
embark on a nationwide strike.
Going by the aforementioned, the Honorable Minister of
Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, engaged both the
leadership of PENGASSAN and the Neconde management.
The Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,
Dr Ibe Kachikwu, representatives of the NNPC, and
representatives of other government agencies were also in
attendance.
Neconde management agreed to unconditionally recall the
sacked staff and take steps to allow their employees to be
members of the union.
It was also agreed at the meeting that the resolutions
reached will be reviewed after three months to determine
the adherence of Neconde management to the details of the
resolution.
The meeting also resolved to address the anti-union posture
of other indigenous companies and their abuse of court
processes to stall the resolution of issues, including
Specialty Drilling Fluid (SDF), CETCO, Century Energy, Oil
Data Services, Frontier Oil, Universal Energy, Mobil
Producing Nigeria and Fugro by the third week of January
2018, to avert a full-blown industrial crisis and ensure that
they abide by the Nigeria Constitution, extant labour laws
and ILO conventions.
In view of the above and in the spirit of the yuletide, on
behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of
PENGASSAN, the Central Working Committee (CWC) hereby
suspends the nationwide strike with immediate effect and
all members are to resume normal duties immediately.
We commend Nigerians for their understanding and continue
to promise to act in a morally justified way that will
enhance the dignity of labour and reduce unemployment in
the country.