Sequel to the memo to all chairmen and secretaries in the four zones and branches on the planned shutdown of the operations and activities in the oil and gas industry by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), other members such as Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), have signified their plans to also join the strike.
In a press statement signed by the National Public Relation Office , PENGASSAN, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, members on Tuesday, met in all the zones to fine-tune the strategies and modalities for the strike .
He said “In the meeting, the gradual method of shutdown was critical examined and adopted by the members.
“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”.
He appeal for understanding of all Nigerians and operators that will be impacted by the action, saying that the industrial action is critical to the survival of the oil and gas industry, which according to him, currently is the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
Rivers State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress and former National Industrial Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Chika Onuegbu, said all branches of the union were on high alert waiting for the directive of the national executives.
PENGASSAN and its members have been facing challenges recently due to the mass sack of its members by various oil and gas companies and that companies have been facing serious challenges due to slump in oil prices, militant attacks,” he said.
He added that the Federal Government is owing the JV partners about USD7 billion piled up from the indebtedness of the previous administrations, which was about USD5 billion.
PENGASSAN, on Monday, directed its members to prepare for strike from Thursday over some unresolved industry issues with the Federal Government.
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