PENGASSAN mobilises for strike despite peace moves by FG

The Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has increased the tempo of its mobilisation for a nationwide strike, which is due to commence on Thursday at 12:01am.
The mobilisation effort has been increased despite the move by the Federal Government to avert the strike.
The Federal Government has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow with the leadership of the PENGASSAN and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers for Thursday.
The meeting is to be addressed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the National Public Relations Officer of the PENGASSAN, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, the union is seriously mobilising all those to be involved in the strike.
The statement by Ojugbana said: “Sequel to the memo to all chairmen and secretaries in the four zones and branches on the planned shutdown of the operations and activities in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, all is now set for the strike.
“Members met in all the zones to fine-tune the strategies and modalities for the strike on Tuesday, while key officers had their meeting on Wednesday. In the meeting, the gradual method of shutdown was critical examined and adopted by the members.
“The action, which will cripple all activities and operations in the oil and gas sector, will affect all the sub sectors as our members in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Monitoring Board) PEF (MB), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), oil majors, labour and contract services companies, and petroleum products marketing companies will join in the action.
“We strongly appeal for understanding of all Nigerians and operators that will be impacted by the action.
“The industrial action is critical to the survival of the oil and gas industry, which currently is the mainstay of the nation’s economy.”