The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has appealed to PENGASSAN to shelve its planned strike.
A statement yesterday by the Deputy Director, Press in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere said “With the conciliation by the Minister of Labour and Employment, the impending action by PENGASSAN stands effectively apprehended in line with the provisions of the relevant labour laws, whose powers are invested in the Minister.”
“We recall that the minister… had on Wednesday, December 13 and Thursday, December 14 brokered long hours of conciliation between PENGASSAN and Neconde Energy Services Ltd and secured an agreement.”
“By that agreement, Neconde will review the termination of the affected staff members with a view to making it conform to the relevant labour laws as regards disengagement of staff. Neconde should also within three months restore the PEGASSAN unit in its establishment in the spirit of the freedom of association as enshrined in the ILO Convention, as well as section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which deals on the same issue.
“It was further agreed that labour issues related with other oil and gas companies- CISCON and others were to be taken in the second week of January 2018. On the other hand, PENGASSAN is to honour its own side of the bargain, report to its Central Working Committee with a viewing to shelving the strike.”
The minister therefore appealed to PENGASSAN to reconsider its decision, respect the agreement and call off the scheduled action in the overall interest of the nation.
