Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The sale of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company and Eni Nigeria to Oando PLC without due process has ignited ripples in the oil sector.
This is as members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers have threatened to withdraw their services from offices and oil locations.
At the forefront of the threat are oil and gas workers in the PENGASSAN branch in Mobil, Chevron, NUPENG, Total Energies and Shell companies.
They said the planned downing of tools was in solidarity with NAOC staff over the purported sale of Agip company to Oando PLC.
The threat was contained in a letter to the PENGASSAN Agip branch Chairman, signed by Shell branch Chairman, Ikechukwu Onyefuru; and Chevron branch Secretary, Pepple Soparaipirim.
Other signatories were the Total Energies branch Secretary; Abubakar Ibrahim; NUPENG General secretary, Afolabi Otawale; and Mobil branch Chairman, Aniete Udoh.
The solidarity letter made public Saturday was obtained by Ikengaonline.
According to the letter, the workers are ready to take any legal step to drive home their demand and ensure due process was followed in the purported sale.
It read in part: “We write to express our absolute solidarity with all your members after reading with shock and consternation; the purported treacherous route chosen by your Management in dealing with our NAOC Comrades in the disposal of its equity in its JV assets to Oando Oil Ltd without recourse to outstanding financial obligations to workers.
“We share in the pains and emotional trauma which you are currently facing and humbly state that you should continue to stand very firm and resolute as you go through this phase of the struggle against this injustice meted to staff and contracted staff members of PENGASSAN.
“In line with the principles of fairness, equity, and social partnership, we believe that all the in-house unions in NAOC should be engaged by Management before, during and after the divestment to address the necessary employee welfare and benefits as will be reasonably demanded by the Unions.
“Furthermore, and to forestall any negative precedence in the industry, we plead that you continue to insist that issues of comprehensive and proper compensation, Pension and Redundancy be exhaustively addressed transparently to the satisfaction of the in-house unions and in full compliance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2014.
“The CBA must be treated with the sanctity it deserves at this moment.”
