Oil Workers Decry Mass Sack In Oil Industry

NUPENG has threatened to go on strike as over 3,000 oil workers have been sacked due to the country’s economic recession.

NUPENG national president, Igwe Achese, revealed this after the Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting of the union in Effurun, Delta State. He said government urgently to stop the mass retrenchment of its members to avoid grounding the industry.

Achese listed the companies like Chevron Nigeria Limited, ExxonMobil, Pan Ocean, Sapiem, and Hercules oil and gas limited.

“Chevron alone is about 1500. Mobil is about 1000. the entire workers of Hercules Oil & Gas are being asked to go home. Pan Ocean have since closed shop and are gone. Industry-wide everybody are being asked to go.”

“We are now asking ourselves where are we heading with the industry. We have lost so much of Nigerian personnel working in the oil and gas industry. What is happening in Nigeria cannot be compared to what is happening in other African countries. We want government to wake up and address some of these issues.”

Oil Workers Give FG 21days Ultimatum

Mr. Achese said if government failed to act and stop these ongoing retrenchment they would be compelled to act in the next 21 days to protect their interest.

“It is painful to say as I address you, Chevron has wound up in the East and their offices closed. A total of 1,500 workers were sacked without their entitlements. Nobody is saying anything about it. As we speak, many companies have left and many others are winding up to go.”

“The Federal Government should act fast to avert further loss of jobs. There is too much redundancy in the oil industry, which needs urgent action from government to salvage the situation”

“We are 100% in support in the fight against corruption, but there must be respite for Nigerians. Right now, our members and even those in other sectors are no longer able to pay school fees for their children. Worse still, those being sacked now are treated without commitment to proper terminal benefits.”

The union called for the urgent passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. It also charged other industry regulators to wake up to their responsibilities.