Pengassan begins Nigeria-wide strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (Pengassan) began a nationwide strike Monday, the union’s general secretary told the media.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment had asked the group to postpone the strike and participate in talks beginning the second week of January to resolve the conflict over layoffs by domestic companies and marginal field operators. Representatives of the union met with Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige Wednesday and Thursday last week. 

“Pengassan is on industrial action as a result of unfair labour practices by some companies, particularly indigenous oil and gas companies,” general secretary Lumumba Okugbawa told Reuters.

With some 20,000 members, Pengassan is the largest registered trade union for senior-level employees in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Its members comprise staff from upstream, downstream and services industry companies, as well as regulatory agencies of the government.