PENGASSAN, NUPENG win battle for unionization in export free zone

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers have won their battle to enforce the establishment of unions in all companies operating in the Oil and Gas Export Free Zone in Onne, Rivers State.
The battle was won after a meeting between the two unions and the companies operating in the OGEFZ.
The meeting, presided over by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Nwogu, was held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity on Thursday.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting said that based on the laws of Nigeria, there must be unions operating in all the companies.
The communique reads in full: “That the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and all extant and relevant laws viz: Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Act 1996, Trade Unions Act Cap. T14 (2004) and Labour Act Cap Ll (2004) remain sacrosanct and applicable.
“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Union officials shall be given unfettered access to perform their legitimate duties by the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority in line with Section 78 (1)(a) of the Labour Act.
“There are over hundred Companies operating in the Free zone Authority (schedule l attached) and only about Five (5) are Unionized; this is not acceptable and it is inconsistent with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In line with the provisions of the law, the Unions must be put in place within ninety (90) days in all the companies operating within the OGFZA.
“The Companies shall establish Human Resources/IR Department which shall interface with the Unions and the Freezone Authority.
“There shall be put in place a Tripartite Committee made up of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the Unions, the OGFZA and the representatives of the Investors forum to monitor the implementation of the foregoing resolutions.
“All Awards and judgments delivered by all competent Courts or Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) shall be complied with.
“All operating Companies within the Zone are to comply with the resolutions contained herein.
“Based on the provisions of the relevant extant Laws and ILO conventions, no worker shall be victimized for any role played in the unionization process and Union activities.”
The communique was signed by Sule Abdul Wasiu, who represented the investors; Inam Wilson, the Head Legal, Vam Onne & Pressure Control; PENGASSAN’s Comrade Babatunde Ogun (President), Comrade Bayo Olowoshile (General Secretary) and Comrade Otono (Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman); NUPENG”s Comrade Godwin Eruba (Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman) and Comrade Bassey Harry (National Public Relations Officer); and E. Okogwu of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.