The
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said on Thursday that it has
commenced strike action with the gradual withdrawal of members on the
offshore, loading bays and flow stations.
The
association in reaction to a media report that the strike has been called off
denied it vehemently stating that the strike has really commenced despite the
Eid-el Filtri public holiday declared by the Federal Government.
This
was disclosed in a statement by the association’s National Public Relations
Officer, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, urging the public to ignore the rumours of
suspension of the strike adding that the strike was to press home PENGASSAN
demands for government’s attention to some critical challenges impacting the
survival of the nation’s oil and gas industry...
“There
is no iota of truth in the report that the strike has been called off
or suspended. As we are speaking now, some of our members that are in the
offshore have been withdrawn, while others who are on critical equipment have
commenced gradual shutting down of such equipment before their
final disengagement.
“Our
members, especially those in offices and downstream sector will join tomorrow
(Friday) as they resume from the Eid el Fitri holiday.”
According
to the Senior Staff Trade Union, some of the challenges include lingering
irregular Joint Venture funding and Cash Call payment arrears, lack of a clear
cut direction on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), forceful co-option of
government agencies in the industry into the Integrated Personnel Payroll
Information System (IPPIS), and spate of redundancy and retrenchment in
the Oil and Gas industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment