Nigeria’s oil workers suspend strike for 2-weeks

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended the national strike embarked upon following the plan by Minister of Petroleum to unbounded the NNPC.

The PENGASSAN President, Comrade Johnson Francis, disclosed this on Thursday that the action was taken after the intervention of the Presidency and the clarification made by the Petroleum Ministry.

PENGASSAN’s acting General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa adds that the decision was taken after 10 hours of talk, ending at about 3am between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, NNPC Executives and union officials.

“Management agreed that there would be further collaboration … with a view to considering any suggested amendments. Our input would be taken into consideration,”

The unions have been directed to resume work and ensure that there is adequate supply of fuel.

Mr Johnson also called on Nigerians to bear with the unions, assuring that everything is under control to ensure the fuel crisis do not linger for long.

On Wednesday, Oil workers shut down operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) nationwide until further notice following the unbundling of the corporation.

This decision was reached at a meeting of the Group Executive Councils of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which held on Tuesday, March 8.

After “extensively discussing the pronouncement”, they “observed that the GMD/HMSP totally disregarded due process and failed to engage stakeholders.

“Hence, from midnight today (Tuesday, March 8), all NNPC locations will be shut down completely until further notice. Further directives will be communicated accordingly”.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Channels Television, President of NUPENG, Mr Igwe Achese, said the unbundling process was not transparent.