The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has escalated its dispute with Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, issuing a stark warning of a nationwide strike.
This drastic measure is threatened unless Sterling Oil promptly addresses and fulfills all of PENGASSAN’s demands, which stem from alleged anti-labour practices and abuse of the expatriate quota system.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, delivered this ultimatum at a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, highlighting the severity of the situation. This follows recent picketing actions by the union at Sterling Oil’s headquarters, where they protested against the company’s treatment of Nigerian workers, including discriminatory practices against skilled professionals.
The core of PENGASSAN’s grievance lies in allegations that Sterling Oil has engaged in anti-labour practices and manipulated the expatriate quota system to the detriment of Nigerian workers. The union claims that this has resulted in discrimination and unfair treatment of skilled Nigerian employees, a situation they deem unacceptable.
Osifo emphasized that the union’s members constitute over 90 percent of the workforce in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector. This significant representation means that a withdrawal of their labor would effectively halt critical operations, leading to widespread disruption within the industry and potentially causing significant economic losses to Nigeria.
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The PENGASSAN president explicitly stated that if their demands are not met, they will initiate a national strike, effectively grounding the entire upstream oil sector. He framed the situation as a choice for the Nigerian government: either enforce compliance with existing laws and regulations, thereby supporting Nigerian workers, or side with Sterling Oil and risk substantial revenue loss.
Osifo presented the government with a clear choice, posing the question of whether they will stand with Nigerian citizens and uphold the nation’s laws, or align with foreign interests. He stressed that the union’s decision to strike is not taken lightly, but is a necessary response to the perceived injustices perpetrated by Sterling Oil.
The union’s threat underscores the growing tension between labor unions and oil companies operating in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of fair labor practices and adherence to national regulations within the oil and gas industry. The potential consequences of a nationwide strike serve as a powerful reminder of the sector’s crucial role in the Nigerian economy.
