PENGASSAN issues 7-day ultimatum to Agip Oil over anti-labour activities

By allcitynews.ng

Concerned by the anti-labour activities, organised labour in oil and gas industry, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has given 7-day ultimatum from Tuesday 26 January 2021, to the management of Agip Oil within which to meet their demands or face the wrath of the union.

The General Secretary of the union, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa in a statement expressed bitterness over the continued unfair labour practices, high headiness and acts of intimidation on our members by the Management of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited.

As a result, the union issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Management to address the issues of anti-union posture of the Operations Divisional Manager and the subsequent demand by the Association or face the escalation of the current ongoing industrial action. The ultimatum commenced on Monday 25th January 2021.

It would be recalled that PENGASSAN had in a letter addressed to the company dated January 23, 2021 accused Agip Management of acts described as “subtle threat against our members” and the demobilization of members access to the Company facilities.

The letter also urged the Company Management to withdraw its toxic memo immediately and open discussion with the Branch leadership who are representatives of PENGASSAN, with a view to resolving the issues and restoring industrial harmony.

However, as a responsible and law-abiding Association, we view the insinuation by Agip Management that the legitimate actions of the Union was unlawful as laughable and a mockery of the relevant sections of the labour laws detailing on how industrial actions and disputes should follow.

Consequently, we are calling on all stakeholders and the security agencies in the country to prevail on Agip Management to as a matter of National security and economic development of the Country refrain from acts capable of truncating the long existing peace in the industry and therefore warn that we will not continue to guarantee such industrial peace should the situation persist.

If PENGASSAN proceeds with the escalated industrial action, Nigeria stands to lose the company’s production of about 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.