It does appear that fuel will be available during the yuletide period as oil workers have halted further strike action apart from the three days warning strike embarked upon during the week.
The decision came as Total E&P has rescinded the sack of a PENGASSAN zonal officer in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Elo Victor-Ogbondah.
The communiqué issued Friday in Abuja at the end of about 13 hours negotiation, showed that apart from recalling of Mrs. Victor-Ogbondah, other contending issues were also resolved.
On the passage of the PIB, the meeting appreciated the benefits associated with the Bill but regretted the delay in passing by the National Assembly. It was suggested that the federal ministries of Labour and Petroleum Resources, NUPENG and PENGASSAN should meet on the subject to decide on the best productive line of action.
On the end of contract of the Port Harcourt zonal Treasurer of NUPENG, Ikohesa O. Ikohesa by Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited, the meeting appealed to Mobil Producing Nig. Unlimited to request the contractor, Messrs Halden Nig. Limited to re-absorb Ikohesa.
Concerning casualisation, contract staffing and outsourcing, the meeting noted that the guidelines are still subsisting and the trade unions were advised to submit the names of companies defaulting. Furthermore, it was noted that the guidelines have been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for gazetting as regulations. Also, the need to update the guidelines in view of the changing world of work was identified.
On the sustenance of National Minimum Wage, it was identified that such matter is for the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to handle.
On the demand for the improvement on national security regarding kidnapping and its negative consequences on the industry and country, it was noted that the issue of security challenges is global and that the Federal Government is committed to protecting its citizens.
On the complaint over bad roads, especially the Eleme Onne leading to Port Harcourt refinery and alternate roads to WRPC as well as PPMC depots in Warri, the meeting was informed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources that FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works have been informed and a palliative work was requested. However, due to the very bad state of the roads, contracts have been awarded for their total rehabilitation.
The trade unions demanded for Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the refineries and regular crude oil supply and their opposition to the sale of refineries without due consultations with them. The issue was stepped down as no comment could be authoritatively made at the meeting on the state of the refineries.
As for the non-promotion of staff in PTDF in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources assured the meeting that the matter is being handled, and concluded that the issue would be resolved by the end of January 2015.
The meeting agreed that unionization in Free Trade Zones is no more an issue as the right of the worker to belong to a trade union is unquestionable based on both national and international labour laws. It was noted that the problem currently encountered in the FTZ is that of identifying the right trade union with jurisdiction to unionize the workers.
In view of the agreement therefore, it was agreed that no trade union official or member will be victimized for his or her participation in the strike, and NUPENG and PENGASSAN suspended the ongoing strike in the industry.
The communiqué was signed by the National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Bayo Olowoshile, General Secretary of NUPENG, Isaac Aberare, General Manager, Human Resources, Total E & P, Paul O. Odekina, the Permanent Secretary of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh. Agency report
