Oil workers suspend picketing at FUPRE after talks

Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Warri Zone, have suspended their picketing of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, following a breakthrough in negotiations with the university’s management.

The decision to call off the industrial action was confirmed by the PENGASSAN Chairman at FUPRE, Mr. Francis Falodun, after a high-level meeting between union representatives and the university leadership.

According to Mr. Falodun, the unions agreed to suspend the picketing in the interest of students and to prevent further disruption to academic activities.

He also disclosed that the university management has committed to paying the union members their outstanding Earned Allowances within seven days.

As part of the agreement, management also assured that no union member would be victimised for participating in the protest action.

On the issue of formal recognition of the union by the university, Falodun stated that discussions are ongoing, but expressed optimism that a cordial working relationship would be maintained going forward.

“I want to sincerely appreciate our members for their steadfastness and commitment to the cause. Their resilience has brought us this far,” he said.

The suspension of the protest was met with jubilation on the FUPRE campus, as union members celebrated what they described as a significant step forward in their pursuit of fair treatment and dialogue.

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Recall that the unions had besieged the main entrance of the institution early Wednesday with petroleum tankers, halting vehicular movement in and out of the campus to press home their demands.

Wednesday’s swift protest was exacerbated by an internal memo from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ezekiel Agbalagba, who raised the alarm and informed security agencies to clamp down on workers whom he alleged were planning to unleash mayhem on the campus.