The nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has been suspended.
The action was taken after the intervention of the Presidency and the clarification made by the Petroleum Ministry, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Johnson Francis said on Thursday.
The decision was taken after 10 hours of talk, ending at about 3am between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, NNPC Executives and union officials, added PENGASSAN’s acting General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa.
“Management agreed that there would be further collaboration … with a view to considering any suggested amendments. Our input would be taken into consideration,” Okugbawa said.
The unions have thus been directed to resume work and ensure that there is adequate supply of fuel.
On Wednesday, workers in the oil sector had shut down operations of NNPC nationwide until further notice following the unbundling of the corporation.
The decision was reached at a meeting of the Group Executive Councils of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which held on Tuesday, March 8.
After “extensively discussing the pronouncement”, they “observed that the GMD/HMSP totally disregarded due process and failed to engage stakeholders.
“Hence, from midnight today (Tuesday, March 8), all NNPC locations will be shut down completely until further notice. Further directives will be communicated accordingly”.
According to th President of NUPENG, Mr Igwe Achese, the unions downed their tools because the due to the lack of transparency in the process.
