As TUC urges FG to avert the strike
By Moses John
Abuja
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on federal government and other relevanct authorities to address labour dispute in the oil and gas industry.
The TUC appeal came on the heels of the two unions in the sector, directing their members, nationwide, to stay away from duties as from 12 midnight Sunday, following the inability of government to address the situation which pushed the workers on a 3-day warning strike, last Monday.
The congress in a communiqué issued in Lagos at the weekend jointly signed by the President Comrade Bobbio Kaigama and general secretary Musa Lawal, said the unions grievance was based on the barrage of national issues, oil and gas policy and institutional issues as well as cases of unfair labour practices.
The communiqué reads in part, “The NEC- in-session saw the recent devaluation of the naira as too hasty and deliberate and therefore calls on the federal government to moderate the continued devaluation of the naira, especially as its impact is already telling negatively on the real sector and all other facets of the Nigerian economy.
“The NEC in session while noting NUPENGASSAN decision to embark on industrial action with effect from Monday, December 15, 2014 expressed concern on the reported attitude and response of the concerned management and government agencies to the barrage of national issues, oil and gas policy and institutional issues as well as cases of unfair labour practices as articulated at the meeting.
A statement by Babatunde Oke, said the strike was also to ensure that the government evolve new strategies to combat pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft that have impacted negatively on the nation’s economy and employment in the country.
Other reasons for the strike are delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), global crude oil prices slump, non -implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD)Act appalling state of access roads to refineries and oil depots’ facilities, insecurity all over the country , compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries for the National Housing Fund (NHF)
The unfair labour practices listed by the oil workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) include transfer and termination of national officers of the two unions.
The unions said that all members have been fully mobilised to embark on indefinite strike on Monday, adding that the strike will not be suspended until there is a strong commitment from the government and affected managements/operators to resolve the issues.
According to NUPENG and PENGASSAN, the government had refused to honour all engagements and agreements reached with them on all their issues of concerns including the turnaround maintenance of the refineries and ensuring adequate supply of crude oil to the refineries to ensure that they functional effectively and efficiently.
The unions also demanded that government should put in place, alternative strategies to stop pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft, convene an industry stakeholders’ forum on PIB status and falling crude oil prices and address the ongoing high rate divestment in the industry and its attendant job losses, casualisation and contract staffing.