SAN FRANCISCO, December 18, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has appealed to members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve their strike, scheduled to begin on Monday.
The union accused Neconde Energy of entrenching unfriendly labour practices in contravention of the nation’s labour laws and failing to remit taxes and pensions deducted from workers to government.
The union then asked the government to compel the company to recalled all sacked workers within seven days and stick to the nation’s labour laws adding that failure to do that will result in a nationwide indefinite strike action with effect from Monday.
However, Deputy Director, Press in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, in a statement in Abuja, stated that with the conciliatory meeting brokered by the Minister, the impending action by PENGASSAN has been effectively arrested in line with the provisions of the relevant labour laws.
“We recall that the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had on Wednesday, December 13 and Thursday, December 14, 2017, brokered long hours of conciliation between PENGASSAN and Neconde Energy Services Ltd and secured an agreement,” the statement read.
“By that agreement, Neconde shall invite the sacked branch chairman of PENGASSAN and hold heart to heart discussion with him while PENGASSAN is to hold back proposed action pending the reconvening of the meeting in the second week of January 2018 when other contending issues relating to other oil companies would be also be sorted out.
“We, therefore, wish to appeal to the Central Working Committee of PENGASSAN to reconsider its decision, respect the agreement and call off the scheduled action in the overall interest of the nation, more so when adequate notice of strike was not given.
“This appeal has become imperative in order to save Nigerians from further hardship in this season of Christmas and the New year.”
