Strike continues until…, PENGASSAN insists

THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), on Monday, insisted that the ongoing strike must continue until after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association billed to hold today in Abuja.

National president of the association, Comrade Olubode Johnson, who told newsmen shortly after their meeting with the Federal Government’s representatives on the ongoing strike in Abuja, said although the meeting was successful, there was still the need to have a roundtable with members of NEC on the matter.

According to him, “for us, we first want to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the high delegation here. We had a robust discussion and I know that the NEC members who gave the go-ahead for this strike are on their way to Abuja.

“After the meeting tomorrow (today), we are going to sit together and do the needful. If we are satisfied with the engagement, the sincerity and openness, definitely we will address the members of the press,” he added.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said the meeting was collaborative, frank and solution seeking, saying most of the key areas were touched and a compromise reached.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the government provided PENGASSAN with useful information on issues that it needed clarification.

According to him, “we only have one matter outstanding and that will be addressed tomorrow (today) because the IOCs are not here.”

He said the issue of unfair labour practices raised by PENGASSAN and laying off of workers without going through normal procedures wuold be addressed today.

According to him, all other issues that needed to be addressed would be sorted out today.