Following the deadlock of the meeting facilitated by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachukwu, between PENGASSAN and Neconde management, the union insisted that its proposed strike, would commence by midnight on Monday.
But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, responding to the development through the Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, Prince Samuel Olowookere, said: “The minister has arrested the strike,” adding that a resolution was reached at a meeting called by the minister for PENGASSAN to put the strike on hold.
The president of the union, Comrade Olabode Johnson and the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Fortune Obi, had told newsmen that the strike would be total, indefinite and last through the festive period.
PENGASSAN had issued a seven-day ultimatum last week to the Federal Government to ensure the recall of the sacked members of staff of Neconde by its management.
Already, the union has commenced mobilisation for the strike.
Comrade Obi said the union has slated an emergency meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC) for Monday morning “while other members are being put on standby for the strike to start by 12 midnight Monday.”
Following the deadlock of the meeting, the PENGASSAN president appealed to all Nigerians to show understanding and “stockpile adequate quantity of premium motor spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products that will last them during the festive period, as this strike will be indefinite.”
While issuing the ultimatum, the union said it would “culminate in the shutting down all oil and gas installations, including disruption to fuel supply and distribution across the country effective Monday December 18, 2017 [tomorrow].”
The crux of the matter, according to Olabode, is “the unfair labour practices and seemly untamable posture of some indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators by relevant agencies of government.”
The union urged the government to direct the management of Neconde and other companies to recall their sacked members as the only option to address the injustice and lawlessness.
But the ministry, in its reaction, said that contrary to the position of the union that the workers, particularly the local branch chairman of PENGASSAN was sacked because of his union activities, the company, Neconde, said he was sacked “because he couldn’t measure up to the standard required.”
The ministry stated that in-as-much as the government could not force an employer to forcefully retain a worker against its will, the management of Neconde had been directed by the minister to invite the sacked workers for negotiation, and ensure that all rules are followed if any staff would be disengaged and all severance allowances paid.
He pointed out that the minister directed that the process should be concluded between now and January, while PENGASSAN should put on hold the planned strike till the meeting is reconvened in January.
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