Our correspondent in Abuja, JAMES IGAH, reports that the strike has been put on hold until Monday following the aborted meeting between the Federal Government and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and their counterparts in the National Union of Petrol and Natural Gas workers.
PESNGASSAN and NUPENG leaders were scheduled to meet with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, CHRIS NGIGE and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, IBE KACHUKWU.
The meeting was expected to hold at the NNPC Towers, but could not take place due to the extended Sallah holiday, and has therefore been rescheduled for Monday next week.
However; contrary to information from our correspondent in Abuja; the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Rivers State, CHIKA ONUEGBU announced that PENGASSAN has declared indefinite strike beginning from tomorrow.
ONUEGBU said the decision to down tools by PENGASSAN is because of severe underfunding of Joint Venture operations and nonpayment of cash calls.
He said the development has led to unprecedented cash call arrears of some seven billion US dollars.
ONUEGBU also said the Federal Government has failed to address several other industrial relations issues and showed lack of commitment to fast-tract the Petroleum Industry Bill.
CHIKA ONUEGBU is the Rivers State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress.
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