NUPENG threatens to embark on industrial action

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it will embark on a three-day warning strike if oil and gas companies fail to address workers’ welfare.

Igwe Achese, president of the union, disclosed this in a statement signed in Lagos.

Achese said the union had given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to intervene in labour issues involving multinationals operating in the oil and gas sector.

He said among contending issues was the non-payment of terminal benefits to 48 contract staff.

Achese said 250 staff whose contract was terminated by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Lagos and Port Harcourt, were not paid.

He said Exxon Mobil refused to reinstate over 200 NUPENG members sacked.

“There are also the issues of closure of Chevron’s Eastern Operations through divestment and refusal to discuss the redundancy terms,” he said.

“Chevron refused to facilitate the formation of Chevron labour Contractors Forum to interface with NUPENG.”

Achese alleged that another oil company reneged on the communiqué signed with the union on settling the severance benefits of its members working in the companies.

He said the union had yet to resolve issues with Pan Ocean over non-implementation of salary increase for its members since 2014.

The NUPENG president said the three-day warning strike would become full if the government did not intervene on the issues.