With a nationwide set to start today, the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige has implored members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve their planned strike.
Ngige said they should this in the spirit of the conciliation brokered between it and Neconde Energy Services Ltd and not make life more difficult for Nigerians in this season.
The Union, aggrieved at the sack of some of its workers, planned a strike for today, Monday 18th of December 2017 unless all sacked workers were recalled within seven days failure of which will lead to a strike.
The union also 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.
However, in a statement signed by Deputy Director, Press in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Samuel Olowookere, Ngige said that with the conciliatory meeting brokered by himself, the impending action by PENGASSAN has effectively been curbed.
The statement said “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.
“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.”