Oil workers suspend planned nationwide strike

TRACKING___Oil workers, under the aegis of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Associated of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have suspended the planned three-day warning strike to allow the Federal Government address the concerns raised by the oil workers.

The workers had threatened to embark on a warning strike from Wednesday, June 24 to Friday, June 26, 2020, to protest the Federal Government’s attempt to forcefully enrol its members into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the workers had written to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Minister of Labour and Employment protesting the decision of the Federal Government to stop the payment of salaries of oil workers in government parastatals yet to be captured on IPPIS.

An official of PENGASSAN had said that the oil workers’ unions had been meeting with the management of IPPIS over the matter for a long time without any head way. He further stated that oil workers in the public sector have rejected the IPPIS. He added that members have been told “to be ready for any eventuality” if “nothing concrete comes from the Federal Government”.

However, the planned strike has been stalled to give the federal government time to act.

In a statement to oil workers in the employ of the Federal Government, Secretary General of PENGASSAN, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa disclosed that the union are currently in talks with officials of the government and would provide updates after talks are concluded.

He said, “Refer to our letter dated June 17,2020 on the above subject, which a copy was sent to you. The matter has been apprehended and discussions on going with the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. The Secretariat will get back to you as events unfold.”