28032019 - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP:All clear for Lawan; fresh crisis brews over Gbaja

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 — 39
08052202308(sms only)
Choose between industrial peace, or unrest — PENGASSAN
tells employers •Says it 'll no longer tolerate impunity, abuse of workers' rights
Stories by Victor Young
FOR sometime now,
unions in the Petroleum
industry have been complaining
and agitating
against perceived
impunity and cases of
rights abuses or denials
and other forms of unfair
Labour practices by
employers in the sector
without government rising
up to the occasion to
address the issue.
Petroleum and Natural
Gas Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria,
PENGASSAN leaders few
days ago at their National
Executive Council, NEC,
meeting in Lagos,
sounded a note of
warning that now that the
elections are over, they are
going to squarely confront
employers who have a
penchant for unfair
Labour practices.
In a communique
issued at the end of the
meeting by PENGASSAN
President and General
Secretary, Francis Johnson
and Lumumba
Okugbawa, respectively,
the body called on the
government to channel
the human capital
potential of Nigerian
citizens towards
optimising productivity
and economic growth of
the nation that we all crave
for. The NEC-In-Session
vows to confront all
industrial issues with
utmost seriousness now
that the elections are over
and all recalcitrant
companies who think they
are above Nigerian laws,
should brace up for a rude
awakening, as the Association
will explore all
possible means to ensure
no organisation
undermines any provisions
of the country's laws.
"NEC-In-Session
observes with dismay the
attitudes of some
organisations such as
CISCON, SDF, Petrobras
and Sterling Oil who are
engaged in modern day
enslavement of workers;
hence it urges the Federal
Government through the
Ministry of Labour and
Employment to call these
organisations to order to
avoid an imminent
industrial crisis in the
sector."
Thumbs up
NNPC
According to the communique,
members of
NEC among others, also
commended the "Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC management
for rehabilitating
and restoring some of its
key assets such as the tank
expansion at Atlas Cove
Depot, re-opening of
Depot facilities at Mosimi,
Ibadan, Enugu, Aba and
Kano, Aba-Port Harcourt
projects, among others.
NEC also appreciates the
Crude Oil Tracking
initiatives which has
blocked leakages and
reduced crude oil theft.
However, NEC-In-Session
craves for the adoption
of the same technology
to the Pipelines monitoring
activities using the
Saudi Arabian models.
"NEC-In-Session is
pleased with the flag-off
and official commencement
of crude oil search
in the Kolmani Well Riverll,
located near Barambu,
Alkaleri Local Government
Area of Bauchi State.
NEC believes this gesture
has shown this administration's
commitment to
grow Nigeria's economy,
boost capacity and provide
energy sufficiency,
strengthen Nigeria's oil
and gas industry. The initiative
will also go a long
way in galvanizing the
current government's national
drive for job creation,
youth empowerment
and human capital development.
"NEC-In-Session
commends NNPC management
for their efforts in
recruiting fresh graduate
trainees and experienced
hires, but appeals strongly
that more emphasis
should be given to inhouse
and qualified staff
to also participate without
hindrance in the recruitment.
NEC believes that
this gesture will reduce
the high rate of unemployed
graduates in the
country.
"However, NEC-In-Session
urges NNPC management
to extend the recruitment
to cover support
staff and backup staff who
are currently engaged
with various contractors
working for NNPC as well
as employ artisans
needed as lower cadre
workers, and all agitations
from various groups
should be addressed."