The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has threatened to withdraw all its members from every upstream operation unless Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company immediately addresses and fulfils all of the association’s demands related to their ongoing grievance.
The President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, issued the threat at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Last week, the leadership of the union picketed the firm’s headquarters over the company’s alleged anti-labour practices and abuse of the expatriate quota system, which led to discrimination against skilled Nigerian workers.
Speaking at the briefing, the union leader emphasised that failure to meet the conditions of their agitation would lead to widespread disruption in the sector, as its members consist of 90 per cent of workers in the upstream segment, impacting critical activities in Nigeria’s oil industry.
Osifo said the government has the option of taking sides with the oil firm and risking losing monumental oil revenue or direct strict compliance with the extant laws and regulations.
He said, “So, if we have done all these and nothing is done, we will declare a national strike. And remember, in the upstream operation of the oil and gas industry, those that are carrying out the operations, over 90 per cent of them are our members.
“So, by the time we withdraw our members from the upstream, the entire upstream will be grounded.
“So, the government should choose between standing with Nigerians and enforcing Nigerian laws or standing with Indians or Sterling Oil.”
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