PENGASSAN urges Buhari to set up public enquiry of oil sector

The Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations otherwise known as the Oputa Panel was inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on June 14, 1999 to investigate human rights abuses by the previous military regimes. The panel ended its job in May 2002.PENGASSAN which called for a state of emergency in the oil […]

The Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations otherwise known as the Oputa Panel was inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on June 14, 1999 to investigate human rights abuses by the previous military regimes. The panel ended its job in May 2002.
PENGASSAN which called for a state of emergency in the oil sector said only doing that will allow critical stakeholders and concerned Nigerians to voice out the way forward in resolving the challenges that have bedevilled the industry for decades.  
President of the union Comrade Francis Johnson made the call at the ‘4th Total E&P Nigeria Ltd branch of PENGASSAN Triennial Delegates Conference’ saying the challenges include frequent crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, irregular joint venture funding and non-payment of JV cash calls, and state of the nation’s refineries.
He added that other problems include the dilapidated state of access roads to operational locations including refineries and depots as well as the issue of fuel subsidy, non-passage of Petroleum Industry Bill, divestment by international oil companies and irregular transfer and allocation of oil blocs.
Also speaking, Chairman of Total branch of PENGASSAN Comrade Gideon Ewoh noted that his branch has engaged in three successful collective bargaining agreements with Total in 2012, 2013 and 2014. However, he added that further agreements have “increasingly become more challenging because of the issues of sustainability, challenging operating environment and the current downturn of business in the oil and gas industry.”