Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has vowed to withdraw oil workers from oilfields locations and offices, following the acquisition of Eni’s Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, NAOC by Oando Plc, without consideration of the workers.
This is as Oando Plc has announced 100percent acquisition of the shares of Italian Eni’s Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, operators of OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63 in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta states, as well as OPL 282 and 135.
PENGASSAN Chairman, Agip Branch, Comrade Eyong Survival, who issued the threat explained that Oando Plc acquisition of 100percent NOAC shares from Eni without interfacing or pre-informing the Union, will render over 3,000 of its members jobless.
Survival, explained that the Union had met with NAOC’s management when the sale of NAOC assets to Oando filtered the air, but the Managing Director, denied any plans of such.
According to him, the union was not against the sale of NAOC JV but that due process must be followed in regards to the workers, considering the present economic hardship in the country.
He explained further that prior to the shocking announcement of NAOC JV sale, the management had pulled out all Italian expatriates from the field locations.
He said, “The Managing Director of Eni Nigeria, Mr. Fabrizio Bolondi, invited the workforce to a meeting on the 4 September 2023, and informed us that Eni has sold its 20percent equity share in NAOC JV, comprising OML 60, 61, 62 & 63, covering parts of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Imo States to Oando Plc; transferring all her assets and liabilities to Oando, without recourse to outstanding financial obligations to the workers, vis-a-vis their employees’ savings plan, pension and gratuity.
“It is imperative to note that the Union being the workers representative were not pre-informed before the commencement of the sales agreement.
“Not long from date, the Union on hearing rumors of the sales of the assets, held a meeting with the Management on 12 July 2023, where the question was put forward to Eni Nigeria management if they had any plan of selling the NAOC JV assets to Oando Plc or any other company, but the Managing Director vehemently denied any plan of selling the JV assets.
“Instead, the MD made presentations on planned injection of IPP phase 2 generated power to national grid, as well as possible conversion of OPL 245 to OML by the federal government.
“By the announcement of sale of NAOC JV assets to Oando, over 3,000 indigenous workers may be thrown into the labour market as the details of their sales transaction were not made known.
“At the moment, a lot of NAOC workers have suddenly developed some health challenges as a result of that callous announcement made by the Managing Director of Eni Nigeria. The union position is for due process to be followed by the management of Eni.
“The Union will order a total withdrawal of her members from all offices and field locations of the company until a proper agreement is reached with Eni Nigeria and Agip Group PENGASSAN.
“By that withdrawal action, gas supply to Indorama will be affected, daily oil production of 300,000bpd of crude oil suspended, about 10mscf of gas to NLNG cut-off, and 350MW of Okpai IPP power to the national grid will be shut down.”
