The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers NUPENG has announced the suspension of its planned nation-wide strike to protest some anti-labour treatments, especially non-payment of arrears of salaries, allowances and terminal benefits meted out to its members by some International Oil Companies IOCs and contractors.

Recall that the union had last week extended the initial 14-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to compel some IOCs and contractor operating in the country to address some welfare issues for members or face a nation-wide strike by seven days. The ultimatum, which originally took effect on November 15, was expected to elapse on Monday November 29, 2021, was extended by one week to December 6, 2021 to allow government and its agencies conclude their interventions.

The union has therefore pledged its commitment to efficient and effective distribution of petroleum products and other oil and gas operations across the nation, especially as the Yuletide approaches.

A joint statement issued by the President Comrade William Akporeha and the General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale said that the decision to shelve the proposed was informed by the far-reaching agreements reached with the contractors.

The duo disclosed that through the intervention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, the contractors have commenced the process to offset all outstanding salaries and allowances owed contract workers under the OML42 and NOAC before the end of December 2021.  This is in addition to an agreement reached with the six big contractors to pay N2.13million to each of their former employees whose terminal benefits were not paid in full in 2012 due to the closure of the contract among other agreements.

The joint statement reads in part: “The leadership of our great union hereby suspends the planned nation-wide over some unfair labour behaviour of some companies in the industry following the successful conclusion of various interventions and engagements with government agencies and institutions, most especially the NNPC.

“Some of the resolutions from these engagements include: The commencement of the processes to clear all the backlogs of arrears of salaries and allowances owed Contract workers of OML 42 and NAOC before the end of December 2021

“The agreement and firm commitment to pay a sum of N2,130,000 to each of the former employees of the big six Contractors whose terminal benefits were short paid in 2012 following the closure of the Contract. The agreement and firm commitment to pay each of the former contract employees of Ykish and Muyideen one Month Gross Salary per each year served as terminal benefits.

“The leadership of NUPENG appreciates the excellent roles of the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari and his wonderful team of highly professional individuals in positively resolving the impasse. NNPC management has once again proven to the union and the nation in general that it can be trusted in matter of ensuring decency of employment and peaceful industrial relations system in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

“On behalf of the entire members of our great union, we promise to reciprocate these commendable efforts with hitch-free and effective distribution of petroleum products and other oil and gas operations to the nation, especially during this festive season. We also wish to appreciate all our members for their continue commitment and loyalty to Union Cause. There is no doubt that our solidarity remains constant as the union makes us strong”.