“Strike neither solves industrial disputes nor contributes to industrial growth. Our economy is already reeling from severe haemorrhage occasioned by decade long mismanagement. Further action, which stunts the efforts currently being made to reverse the trend, should therefore be shunned.
“A situation where oil workers leave their offices and oil loading base will not make for an increase in oils export nor assist make available, enough petroleum products in this time of deregulation. This will only compound the vandalisation in the Niger Delta, occasioning low output and export in our OPEC quota, apart from the unwarranted hardship on the populace.
“The time therefore calls for more patriotism more so when negotiations have already been kick started with PENGASSAN and International Oil Companies (IOCs) on most of the areas especially the issue of cash calls and arbitrary sack of personnel,” says Sen. Ngige today in Abuja.
“The Federal Government therefore urges PENGASSAN to urgently call off the strike so that all sides will freely negotiate. I am very optimistic that when we sit for negotiation on Monday, July 11, issues that have led to the situation on the ground will be resolved in the greater interest of the nation.”
He further urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying of petroleum products.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe kachikwu, has assured that all issues raised by oil workers’ unions would be addressed to ensure sanity in the industry.
Kachikwu gave the assurance while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The unions are Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
“We have listened to all their items of concerns and we will address them; we notice that anytime there is strike, it sets us back for two weeks.
“We have scheduled for a meeting on July 11, so we will tackle some of these issues,’’ Kachikwu said.
According to him, some of the issues border on security of work for their members and the fate of the some of the members that were laid off.
He assured that the meeting would handle all issues, and expressed hope that it would end well in the interest of the nation.
PENGASSAN had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike on Thursday over various workers’ welfare issues, including alleged mass sacking of its members by some oil and gas companies.
