Strike begins today midnight
By Moses John Abuja
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has appealed to the Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve its planned strike in the spirit of conciliation brokered between it and Neconde Energy Services Ltd.
A statement by the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Samuel Olowookere, said “with the conciliation by the Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment, the impending action by PENGASSAN stands effectively apprehended in line with the provisions of the relevant labour laws whose powers are invested in the Honorable Minister.
“We recall that the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige had on Wednesday, December 13 and Th ursday, December 14 brokered long hours of conciliation between PENGASSAN and Neconde Energy Services Ltd and secured an agreement. “By that agreement, Neconde will review the termination of the aff ected staff members with a view to making it conform with the relevant labour laws as regards disengement of staff .
Neconde should also within three months restore the PEGASSAN unit in its establishment in the spirit of the freedom of association as enshrined in the ILO Convention as well as section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which “We therefore wish to appeal to 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.” Meanwhile, the workers have summoned an emergency central working committee meeting of the Association for today morning to deliberate on the strike scheduled to commence by midnight. The Association in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Fortune Obi, vowed that the association will down tools unless last minute intervention by government is secured. He said PENGASSAN members across the country had been put on alert for preparation for the industrial action.
