By Eberechi Obinagwam
The National Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have vowed to resist arbitrary sack of members by oil firms.
The unions in a joint statement said they have received series of reports from their members of attempts by some multinational and indigenous Oil and Gas Companies to exploit the current unfortunate COVID- 19 situation to rationalize, downsize, sack, introduce precarious/indecent work system or reduce salaries and allowances of workers in the industry.The uninns condemn the moves and vow to resist such action.
According to the unions, the moves are unfair to the selfless and patriotic services of the Nigerian Oil and Gas workers to these companies and the Nation over these past highly productive years and even when these workers are still fully participating in the frontline of the struggle against the pandemic rendering essential services.
They further explained that, these moves if not properly checked, will further complicate the already impoverished state of Nigerian Oil and Gas Workers, their immediate family and others depending on the workers incomes for living.
However, the unions stated that they recognise the negative impacts Covid -19 is having on the industry, business operations, and earnings and empathize with the employers, but maintained very strongly that taking the routes of arbitrary sacks, terminations, or introduction of precarious/indecent working conditions laden with flagrant and unprocedural behavior should be avoided at all cost, as they would not bring anything in both short, medium and long terms.
The unions called on the Federal Government and all its relevant agencies saddled with the responsibilities of managing and regulating the industry to urgently nip these ugly trends in the buds to avoid many untoward and damaging consequences of the actions and reactions that may follow.
“The Federal Government and all its relevant agencies are further put on notice that NUPENGASSAN might be forced to precipitate an action that will affect drastically the entire industry if this ugly trend is not halted and erring organisations called to order.
“However, we earnestly implore these companies that in the same manners and spirit they are making donations for the fight against COVID-19, they should also spare some kind thoughts for their Workers and strive to keep them alive and on job so as not to create social upheavals that would be more devastating than the COVID- 19 pandemic.”
