FG kicks as PENGASSAN plans total shutdown of economy today

The federal government has faulted the planned strike by oil and gas workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) planned for today.

PENGASSAN had stated that its members will proceed on strike today (Thursday), an action it said, would shut down all operations and activities in the country’s oil and gas industry, effectively crippling the nation’s economy.

This is inspite of insistence by government that there is a planned meeting for today to address the issues raised by the union’s leadership.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, are expected to meet with the leaderships of PENGASSAN and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, today.

The union said it is embarking on the strike over what it said is government’s insensitivity and lack of will to resolve some issues affecting the oil and gas sector.

The union said its members had met in all the zones to fine-tune the strategies and modalities for the strike on Tuesday, followed by a meeting of key officers the next day, adding that a gradual method of shutdown was critically examined and adopted by the members.

PENGASSAN in a statement signed by its national public relations officer, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana said, “The action, which will cripple all activities and operations in the oil and gas sector, will affect all the sub sectors as our members in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Monitoring Board) PEF (MB), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), oil majors, labour and contract services companies, and petroleum products marketing companies will join in the action.

“We strongly appeal for understanding of all Nigerians and operators that will be impacted by the action. The industrial action is critical to the survival of the oil and gas industry, which currently is the mainstay of the nation’s economy”.

According to Ojugbana, the association had been engaging with government over Joint Venture Funding and the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which was pending at the National Assembly, among other issues, without any positive result from the side of the government.

However, a statement from the Deputy Director, Press, in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, on Wednesday, stated that Senator Ngige and Dr. Kachikwu would meet with the labour leaders in the oil and gas sector Thursday.

The short statement read: “The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige and the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, will tomorrow (today) hold a crucial meeting with Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to find a lasting solution to the lingering problems in the oil and gas sector.

“The meeting is scheduled to hold at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister’s Board Room, 11th Floor, NNPC Towers, Abuja at 10a.m. prompt.”