THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, wants stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to immediately convene a summit to address unemployment and industrial relations crises in the sector. The union also announced the suspension of its planned industrial action and the withdrawal of the ultimatum it issued.

NUPENG said most of its demands contained in the ultimatum have either been addressed or are being addressed. At a press conference in Abuja, Williams Akporeha, national president of the union, said the summit would go a long way in engendering industrial peace and harmony in the sector.

He said NUPENG, as a peaceful and law abiding organisation, will remain undeterred in its defense, promotion and protection of its member’s rights in tandem with extant rules and civilised conventions. He stated that the union was also open to work at all times with labour-friendly employers for the enhancement of productivity and favourable growth of the oil and gas industry.

According to Akporeha, the demands of the union that has been met include the reinstatement of 89 NUPENG members sacked in OES Deep sea in Port Harcourt, and the directive given by the Committee of the House of Representatives to the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board to commence immediate discussion with the union on how to improve the lots of Nigerians with regard to job security and workers’ rights in the industry.

– Jul. 13, 2018 @ 12:05 GMT |