PENGASSAN tasks FG on multinationals non-compliance to agreement

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has implored the federal government to take stringent measures to curb a situation where agencies and oil companies carry on their activities as if they are more powerful and not answerable to the  government. President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, stated this at […]

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has implored the federal government to take stringent measures to curb a situation where agencies and oil companies carry on their activities as if they are more powerful and not answerable to the  government.
President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, stated this at the 3rd Women in PENGASSAN National Conference held   in Abuja.
He said that such an attitude is not acceptable to the union as unions in general are representatives of the people.
He said, “We have been having series of meetings with the government team.  You cannot have an agreement with the minister standing in for the President of the Federal Republic, and when it’s time to take action, you say no. We only suspended our strike, if these issues are not addressed properly, we may have to resume the strike. Though  we don’t like taking that route. That is why we are imploring every agency of government that whatever agreement reached must be respected. We will abide by our side of the agreement but if they are not ready to honour theirs, we will have no choice than to resume our suspended strike.’’
On the agreement reached to recall sacked workers in the oil sector, he said, “We had an understanding, but today what we are hearing is that some of them are reneging, especially Fugro Nig Ltd. I must be specific here. They are reneging. If the minister who is standing in for Mr President took a decision and they are reneging, that is an affront on the president of Nigeria. If you know you have no respect for the President then you pack your things and get out of the country.’’
Comrade Olabode also said that the leadership of PENGASSAN was going to meet with the federal government over the threat issued by the Avengers to oil workers.
Comrade Olabode warned that the group’s threats should not be taken lightly by the government.
“We are having a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment. In view of the issue on ground, this is something we should take as priority. Whatever the issue, let government look for a way to fast track everything and discuss so that there can be peace in this country.
“This is not time for us to start destroying ourselves and our properties and oil installations. We all need to work together as a country so that Nigeria can rise from the ashes of what we are going through,” said the PENGASSAN.