SHOCKING: NUPENG, PENGASSAN begin nationwide strike today.

The Nigeria oil workers under the umbrella of the Nigeria
Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)
and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association
(PENGASSAN), today began an indefinite strike to push for

their demands over unfair labour practices, ability of the
government to carry out turn around maintenance of the
refineries and others.
The unions said they were protesting government’s in­
ability to reduce pump prices of petroleum products in
line with the slump in global prices of crude oil.
The strike according to the union was also to ensure that
the government evolve new strategies to combat pipeline
vandalism and crude oil theft that have impacted
negatively on the nation’s economy and employment in
the country.
Other reasons for the strike are the delay in the passage of
the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), global crude oil prices
slump, non-implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas
Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act to reflect
Nigerians in management positions and expatriate quota
law, appalling state of access roads to refineries and oil de­
pots’ facilities, insecurity all over the country that has led
to the death of their members, appointments in
government agencies in disregards to succession planning,
compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries for the
National Housing Fund (NHF), casualisation and contract
staffing and unfair labour practice by companies and
government agencies.
The unfair labour practices listed by the oil workers also
include transfer and termination of national officers of the
two unions.
In a statement made available by the unions, the strike will
affect all operations in the upstream, midstream and
downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, as
members will be withdrawn from all oil and gas
installations.
The unions said that all members have been fully
mobilized to embark on an indefinite strike from today,
adding that the strike will not be suspended until there is a
strong commitment from the government and affected
managements/operators to resolve the issues.
According to NUPENG and PENGASSAN, the government
has refused to honour all engagements and agreements
reached with them on all their issues of concerns including
the turn around maintenance of the refineries and
ensuring adequate supply of crude oil to the refineries to
ensure that they function effectively and efficiently.
The unions also demand that the government should put
in place alternative strategies to stop pipeline vandalism
and crude oil theft, convene an industry stakeholders’
forum on PIB status and falling crude oil prices and
address the ongoing high rate divestment in the industry
and its attendant job losses.
On casualisation and contract staffing, NUPENG and
PENGASSAN demand immediate conversion of all contract
staff to regular staff in accordance with the approved Con­
tract, Casual and Outsourcing in the Oil and Gas Industry
Guidelines
NUPENG President, Igwe Achese said specifically in Okrika,
Rivers state yesterday that Total Nigeria would have to
recall its member, Elo Ogbonde, a Zonal officer elected for
the Port Harcourt zone in July this year, but subsequently
posted out to Lagos in August.
“It was done to punish her and to make her lose her seat,
but our position is that the strike which begins in the Port
Harcourt zone tomorrow will not be called of until she is
recalled. It will not be fair for any employers to undermine
the rights of the workers to elect their leaders, this despite
all the interventions by the Ministries”, he said.