Petroleum, gas workers withdraw services
By Tanko Mohammed
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members on essential duty in the oil and gas industry to withdraw services by midnight April 19 and noon April 20.
The association’s President, Mr Ndukaku Ohaeri and General Secretary, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, made this known in a joint statement on Sunday in Lagos.
The union said the directive became necessary due to the Federal Government’s and relevant authorities failure to secure the release of the 21 oil workers on legitimate national assignment in Rivers.
“Recall that on April 16, 2020 we raised the alarm over the illegal arrest and detention of 21 members of staff of ExxonMobil by the Rivers Police Command.
“This was on the pretext that the workers violated the state executive order on the prevention of movement to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus in the state.
“It is more than 48 hours that these patriotic workers, who were lured from the border between Rivers and Akwa Ibom, are still detained under inhabitable and inhuman conditions and denied access to basic necessities of life at Elekhahia Stadium.
“All entreaties to the Rivers Government to see reasons that they were on essential duties which is for the economic interest of the country have been rebuffed, ” the association said.
PENGASSAN said that by midnight April 19, all export facilities would stop operation as well as suspension of production and maintenance services reports.
The union also said that by noon on April 20, all its members would withdraw all forms of services relating to crude oil production, refining, distribution and supplies.
“This directive will remain in force until assurances of our members’ safety are guaranteed by government.
“We are in consultation with our units, branches and other sister unions which will also be joining the action as the safety of our members is our uttermost priority, ” the association said.