Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers begin nationwide strike

NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, will today begin an indefinite nationwide strike, to protest the inability of the government to carry out Turn Around Maintenance,  TAM, of the refineries and reduce pump prices of petroleum products in line with the slump in global prices of crude oil.

Other grievances include delay in the passage of  the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB; non- implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act to reflect
Nigerians in management positions and expatriate quota law; appalling state of access roads to refineries and oil depots’ facilities and insecurity in the country that has led to the death of members.

Other complaints are appointments in government agencies in disregards to succession planning, compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries for
the National Housing Fund, NHF; casualisation and contract staffing and unfair labour practice by
companies and government agencies.

The grievances also include termination of appointment of the Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary of
the association by Total Exploration and Production, Total E&P, Nigeria Limited; retardation of staff
promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF; non-standardisation of
nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency, NNRA,
in line with what is obtained in other agencies in the oil and gas industry and refusal of the management
of Addax/Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/ Sudelletra to recall sacked staff.