– Union vows to resist job insecurity tactics
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has ordered its members at Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd to resume work immediately, following a resolution brokered at a tripartite mediation meeting convened by the Nigerian Upstream Investment Management Services, NUIMS.
This is coming 48 hours after PENGASSAN directed its members to shutdown and totally withdraw their services at all operational locations of Newcross, following what the union had described as “arbitrary queries and suspension letters” issued to its branch executives.
But in a circular issued on Tuesday night, and addressed to the union’s branch leadership at Newcross, PENGASSAN confirmed that the suspension of affected members has been lifted and that security presence at the worksite has been de-escalated — key demands that had led to the industrial face-off.
“Following the tripartite mediation meeting at the instance of NUIMS, you are hereby directed to resume duties tomorrow morning,” wrote Comrade Regina Ewah, Assistant General Secretary of PENGASSAN Port Harcourt Zone, in the directive to members.
According to the union, while some key issues have been resolved, discussions are still ongoing regarding the use of third-party contractors in permanent roles — a practice the union strongly opposes.
“The Association and Management of Newcross have been mandated to have a closure on the lingering issues of third-party contractors in permanent roles.
“The Association is committed to productive operations without an overarching fear of extinction by management strategies which we, as an Association, shall resist,” Ewah stated
The directive, copied to the PENGASSAN President, General Secretary, and other top union executives, affirms the union’s commitment to defending workers’ rights while maintaining stability in operations across the upstream sector.
PENGASSAN had earlier raised concerns over job insecurity, poor industrial relations practices, and the militarization of worksites in the oil and gas industry — issues that have sparked tensions in several facilities in recent months.
With this directive, normal operations are expected to resume at Newcross’ Towers office in Victoria Island, Lagos, as well as operational base and worksites across OML24 in Rivers State, including Ekulama 1 flowstation, Ekulama 2 flow station, Awoba flowstation and gas plant, etc.
