The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oil workers

  • Oil workers urge Fed Govt to call IOCs to order

    Oil workers urge Fed Govt to call IOCs to order

    • Warning strike likely in Jan.

    Oil workers have urged the Federal Government to resolve the lingering labour issues in the oil and gas industry to avoid an industrial unrest.
    The workers, acting under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), warned that the issues it had with international oil companies (IOCs) could threaten the peace in the industry.
    It warned that if the government failed to intervene, it would go on a three-day warning strike in January before embarking on a nation-wide strike.
    Speaking with The Nation, its President, Igwe Achese, said NUPENG would resist any divestment by the multinationals that did not carry the workers along. He promised a show-down with the multinationals over non-payment of terminal benefits to 48 contract workers and 250 contract workers terminated in Lagos and Port Harcourt by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), among others.
    “We will embark on a three-day warning strike nation-wide in January as a result of these unresolved labour issues with multinationals operating in the oil and gas industry.
    “This decision was taken at the end of our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Port Harcourt. The warning strike is preparatory to a nation-wide strike if there is no intervention by the Federal Government,” Achese said.
    He said the January date would be communicated to all members.
    He said union members should wear a red band on their arm to work from next week while Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) are to put green leaves on their tankers preparatory to the commencement of the warning strike next month.
    He said the Union believes that whatever goodwill the government has to encourage investors to the economy should not lead to job . Rather, it should lead to job creation.
    He said: “The unresolved labour related issues which made the Union to issue a 21-day ultimatum for the Federal Government’s intervention include the non-payment of terminal benefits to 48 contract staff and 250 contract staff terminated in Lagos and Port Harcourt by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
    “The others are the refusal of Exxon Mobil Producing to reinstate over 200 NUPENG members sacked through its directives to her labour contractors despite ultimatum jointly issued by NUPENGASSAN.
    “The Chevron issue include the total closure of the company’s Eastern operations through divestment, refusal to discuss the redundancy terms and its refusal to facilitate the formation of Chevron labour Contractors Forum to interface with NUPENG.”
    Achese said Chevron’s refusal to allow workers to unionise was causing industrial relations tension.
    Some of the issues, according to him, include Tecon Oil Services Management reneging on the communiqué signed with the Union on offloading the severance benefits of its members working with the company.
    Others involve Pan Ocean’s non-implementation of annual salary increase for NUPENG members in the company simce 2014 till date.

  • Oil workers hail subsidy removal, demand N90,000 minimum wage

    Oil workers hail subsidy removal, demand N90,000 minimum wage

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Friday commended the Federal Government for removing subsidy on petrol.

    This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a National Executive Council of PENGASSAN and NUPENG in Calabar, Cross River.

    The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Francis Olabode-Johnson, President of PENGASSAN and his counterpart of NUPENG, Dr Igwe Achese.

    Welcoming the petrol price increase, the workers stated that the measure would benefit Nigerians in the nearest future.

    “After a joint meeting of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, we hereby applaud the Federal Government for the removal of subsidy to create way for private participation in the oil and gas sector.

    “We will seek negotiation with the Federal Government in order to monitor the proceeds that would accrue from the price increase.

    “It is not all about price increase; we must monitor the proceeds and ensure that it is being re-invested into critical sectors of the economy.

    “We will watch with keen interest how the money that would accrue from the increase would be implemented to better the lives of Nigerians,’’ the communiqué said.

    According to it, Nigerians have been yearning for the removal of subsidy for many years now, but to no avail.

    “The price is the secondary issue; the Federal Government has brought up a policy that would stop money from entering into the hands of few individuals.

    “The subsidy removal is a welcome development; we must not mortgage our economy into the hands of few selfish individuals,’’ the workers said.

    They said that they would push for a new minimum wage demand of N90, 000, given the new development.

    “With the new pump price of N145 per litre, government must speed up the negotiation process for a new minimum wage of N90, 000 to cushion the effect of the envisaged inflation.

    “ As the price of fuel increases, there should also be an increment in workers’ salary as the old minimum wage of N18, 000 has no effect again,’’ they stated.

    NAN reports that both unions condemned the renewed spate of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, and urged the government to check the illegalities of the militants.

     

  • NSCDC arrests suspect for killing oil workers with dynamites

    NSCDC arrests suspect for killing oil workers with dynamites

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State Command, Wednesday, arrested  and paraded a suspected criminal for allegedly planting dynamites that killed three oil workers in the state on Easter Sunday.

    Three oil workers lost their lives in pipeline explosion that occurred in Olugboboro community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    The deceased were said to be carrying out repairs on a ruptured crude oil pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) when the tragedy struck.

    But explaining the real cause of the explosion that killed the workers, the Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said they died of dynamite explosion planted by the suspect and his cohorts.

    Agu explained that the oil workers successfully completed the repairs when the dynamites exploded and killed them.

    The Commandant gave the name of the suspect as Seimghale Perekeyi.

    He also named other fleeing accomplices as Emekoko Taribo, Pani Bulogbo, James Komo and Samuel Joyce.

    Agu said: “The NSCDC has arrested a suspected vandal by name Seimghale Perekeyi.  This vandal along with other vandals attacked Agip pipeline at Olugboboro, Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State on March 26, 2016 about 1830 hours with dynamite.

    “The anti-vandalism unit of the command trailed and arrested him (Perekeyi) while the others are at large but are still being trailed by our men.

    “The Agip had contracted the repairs to a servicing company to remediate and clamp the vandalised points. Our investigations reveal that the repair team had successfully completed the clamping on the damaged points and were leaving when explosions were heard in the nearby forest.

    “Those explosions from the forest planted by the hoodlums resulted in the death of three persons. The NSCDC rescue team swung into action and recovered three dead bodies of the oil workers on March 28 who died as a result of the explosions.”

    Agu, who paraded two other suspected oil thieves said Perekeyi would be prosecuted adding that his men on manhunt for other fleeing vandals.

    The Commandant further said a notorious illegal oil bunkerer and an ex-militant leader, alias ‘General Yeri’, wanted for vandalising Agip facilities at Perigbene in Southern Ijaw were nabbed by NSCDC operatives.

    He said they were undergoing trial and were remanded in prison custody.

    Agu further said the command destroyed more than 400 illegal oil refineries in Bayelsa.

    He stated the NSCDC’s zero tolerance for sabotage to critical national assets and stressed that the command was committed to ensuring their safety and security.

  • Kidnapped oil workers regained freedom in Edo

    Kidnapped oil workers regained freedom in Edo

    Three workers of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company who were abducted by gunmen along Benin-Akure express road near Oluku in Edo State have regained their freedom.

    Their abductors abandoned them in the bush after a combined team of policemen, local hunters and vigilante gave them a hot pursuit.

    Names of the victims could not be ascertained as at press time.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Abiodun Osifo, said policemen did not engage in a shoot-out with the kidnappers so as not to injure the victims.

    He said the victims were members of top management staff of the NPDC who were on their way for a training programme.

    DSP Osifo said the victim suffered shock but were rescued hail and healthy.

    He warned the kidnappers to leave the state or be ready to meet their waterloo.

    Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, said adequate security would be provided for the operation of NPDC in the state.

    He spoke when he received management team of the NPDC who were in his office to show appreciation for the prompt rescue of their staff.

    Managing Director of NPDC, Abubakar Sadeeg Mai-Bornu thanked the police for the speed with which the rescue was made.

    “I am here to thank you and your team for the effort made towards the successful rescue of our colleagues, we saw them at the hospital, thank God they are hale and healthy,” MD Abubakar stated.

  • 300,000 oil workers get new deal

    Petrol attendants are in for a new deal as their employers have acceded to their demand for enhanced remuneration.

    With an estimated over 300,000 workers across the country, it was gathered that they would start enjoying a new salary scale before the end of next month.

    It was gathered that work began on the implementation of the new salary structure for the petrol attendants few years ago, following a protest they organised to press home for improved package.

    It was further learnt at the weekend that the majority of the workers receive less than N8,000 monthly.

    An ex-officio, Petrol Station Workers Union (PSWU), Southwest, Mr Samson Akintayo, said no petrol attendant would receive less than N15, 000 per month when the scheme takes effect by the end of February.

    He said: “Modalities for the new salary scheme for fuel attendants have been fashioned out by bodies, such as PSWU, which is the apex body for petrol attendants, Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    Akintayo said the bodies were involved in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which stated the terms and conditions of service for the workers.

    He said the agreement would spell out the new salary structures of the attendants, their leave bonus, hospital bills, and other packages, adding each attendant wound be given a copy each, as soon as the scheme takes off.

    He said there are 30,000 filling stations in the six-geo political zones of the country, stressing that each of the petrol stations has at least three attendants.

    “There are over 30,000 filling stations and about 300,000 attendants in the country. The minimum salary for the attendants is N15,000 while the older and experienced ones would earn between N20,000 – N25,000 per month,” he said.

    Efforts to get the IPMAN’s President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, to speak on the issue proved abortive as telephone calls and text message sent to him failed to elicit any response.

  • Oil workers kick as NNPC moves to axe 700 jobs

    Oil workers, acting under the aegis of the  National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (NUPENGASSAN),  and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural  Gas Workers (NUPENG) have rejected  plans by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to sack seven hundred of its workers, The Nation has learnt

    It was gathered that the workers were holding consultations to stave off any immediate or future plans to lay off any of its members by the management of the NNPC.

    The source said ongoing meeting between NNPC Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu and the representatives of the workers, would try and address the issue of retrenchment of workers in the industry.

    The workers, had penul-timate last week, urged President Muhammad Buhari, to wade into the issue with a view to compelling the GMD not to sack its members.

    PENGASSAN’s spokesman, Babatunde Oke, said workers have protested the sack at the NNPC few days ago to win support for their actions.

    NNPC, through its spokesman,  Ohi Alegbe has rebuffed the claims that the state-run oil firm is going to axe 700 jobs.

    Alegbe said ongoing restructuring at the firm would not warrant massive job cuts, as being speculated by the workers, adding that it would only affect top management workers and that most of those affected had already been fired.

  • Oil workers shut down AMCON

    Oil workers shut down AMCON

    Activities  at the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) came to a standstill yesterday, as oil workers under the aegis of SeaWolf Oil Field, paralysed its activities.

    The disengaged workers, who barricaded the entrance to the office, were protesting the failure of AMCON to pay their entitlements which they claimed was between N5billion and N7billion.

    They lamented that despite assurance that the corporation would pay their entitlements after taking over their company-Offshore Management Services, such promises had yet to be fulfilled.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Victor Ekundayo said the agreement reached with the Corporation was that their salaries be paid by AMCON following the take over of the company two years ago.

    He said,”We have had several meetings with the Ministry of Petroleum, Labour and Productivity.  Ministry of Finance had to intervene,  insisting that  AMCON pays the claims. AMCON even called us to say they will pay, yet nothing has been done.

    “AMCON took over our facility in 2013 because SeaWolf was indebted to a lot of commercial banks. They did so without settling the workers.

    “The standard in the oil and gas is that for whatever reason, workers must be paid their terminal benefits, which AMCON has refused to do.

    “Before we came here, we took our grievances to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity. They all asked AMCON to pay us our entitlements.

    “In May, we met with the Managing Director, of  AMCON. He assured us that our claims will be addressed within 48 hours, yet it’s been three months and no word from them.”

    Ekundayo claimed that the delay in the payment of entitlement has resulted to the death and hospitalisation of some of his colleagues.

    He however urged the Federal Government to intervene so they could get their entitlements paid.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, AMCON, Kayode Lambo, described the protest as illegal because a court injunction stopped them from doing so.

    “I cannot tell you what AMCON is doing to address the situation because the case has been taken to court and doing so will be prejudicial,” he said.

  • More oil workers lose jobs as glut takes its toll on Nigeria

    More workers will  lose their jobs in the oil and gas  sector  as the full impact of continued drop in oil prices  comes to bear on the industry, the President, Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN), Dr Austin Nweke has said.

    Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria(PETAN), Mr. Emeka Ene says that over  6,000 jobs were lost  in the oil services segment of the industry as at first quarter of this year.  Many oil firms have lost their expatriate workers to recession because they are unable to raise enough money to maintain them.

    Nweke said the highly technical workers such as geologists, engineers and others have lost their jobs, adding that those in maintenance and security may lose their jobs if there is no improvement in the sector.

    He said the outcome of a research titled Challenges in the Oil and Gas  Industry in Nigeria conducted by AOPN shows that losses to oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other untoward practices contribute to a shrink in turnover and profits of players in the industry.

    He said: “From the research, oil and gas firms are ready to keep low income workers such as security and maintenance officers. They are contract staff which the oil companies outsourced.  They are needed to secure assets such as pipelines and oil installation equipment, among others. Going by the current development in the industry, many companies would have no choice than to prune down the number of workers they outsourced.”

    He said clerical officers will also be affected since the companies would not like to maintain a moderate expenditure. According to him, contract workers are easy to get unlike the highly skilled workers such as engineers and technicians, stressing that oil firms can sack such workers and employ new ones when the need arises.

    He said recession in the global market has worsened the problems of oil companies operating in Nigeria, with resultant effects on their employees adding that outsourcing companies are owed by their clients due to the bad economy, and many of them are not ready to compound their woes.

  • Oil workers threaten strike

    Oil workers threaten strike

    Oil workers, acting under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have threatened to embark on zonal industrial action to address the injustice meted out to their colleagues at Arco Petroleum (Nig) Plc by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    Addressing reporters in Port Harcourt yesterday, the Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Godwin Eruba and PENGASSAN Chairman, Port Harcourt Zone, Comrade Azubike Azubuike said  if NAOC is not called to order to rescind the quit order it has given to Arco and follow due process as required by law, they would have no choice but to down tools.

    Eruba and Azubuike said trouble started when NAOC ordered Arco to vacate its (NAOC’s) plants at OB/OB Ebocha in Rivers State and Kwale in Delta State with immediate effect to give way for Plantgeria (Nig) Ltd to take over the plants.

    They argued that Arco is an indigenous company that has been doing very well in the oil and gas industry for many years, lamenting that in the  era of encouraging local content, it would be a great disservice to ask the company to take its hands off a job it has been handling for years.

  • Oil workers urge NLNG to complete Train 7

    Oil workers urge NLNG to complete Train 7

    Oil workers, acting under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have urged shareholders and Board of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), to approve the  completion of Train 7 project  to  make the company more competitive in the global gas market.

    It said the completion would enable the country to end gas flaring by harnessing the flared gas for domestic use and for export as well.

    Speaking at the 4th Triennial Delegates Conference of PENGASSAN Branch of the NLNG in Bonny, Rivers State, its President, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, said that Train 7 project was established to further exploit the emerging global market demand for LNG and to remain competitive, adding that in 2017, there is expected to be a potential drop in global LNG price due to competition as there is likelihood of increase in the number of suppliers.

    He said: “We expect that in the face of a drop in crude oil price and glut in global crude oil market, LNG would have become another veritable source of revenue and foreign reserve for the government and the company.

    “Train 7 completion will definitely increase the company’s share of global market, enhance flare reduction or total flare out, and attract $10 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with zero cash out from the government.

    “Other benefits Train 7 will bring on completion are job creation through the construction of the plant in Bonny and construction of gas pipelines in other communities; increase capacity to meet domestic market demand, and maximisation of the Nigeria Content Development Act through local capacity building.”

    Johnson urged the government to give priority to domestic gas utilisation over export, enhance gas utilisation with full reappraisal of the Gas Master Plan, and adequately fund the NLNG’s operations.

    He also urged the government to extract commitment on gas flare-down to a nearest predictable timeline from the oil and gas companies operating in the country and find lasting solution to incessant vandalism of gas pipelines.