The striking workers of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) at the weekend shunned peace meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige and rejected a directive by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu to suspend the strike.
According to a source in the petroleum industry, the action of the striking Mobil workers is discourteous and lacks decency in all ramifications. He said the Minister of Labour called them (Mobil workers) for a meeting on Thursday and they failed to show up, not even with an explanation. The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources directed them to suspend the strike while the peace talks continue, they also refused, he added.
To confirm his statement, he allowed The Nation to sight the letter written by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mobil Producing Nigeria Branch to the national body of PENGASSAN rejecting Kachikwu’s directive.
The letter dated May 12, 2017 and entitled “The Mobil/PENGASSAN/] staff dispute – A directive on resolution,” signed by the Secretary PENGASSAN, MPN Branch, Anitie David Udoh and addressed to the General Secretary PENGASSAN, copying the National President PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Johnson and Chairman, PENGASSAN MPNU, Comrade Paul M. Eboigbe, pledged total loyalty to PENGASSAN’s decision.
The letter said: “Please be informed that the Branch received a ministerial directive on the ongoing Mobil/PENGASSAN industrial dispute from the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources directing the immediate suspension of the ongoing industrial strike action amongst others.
“Please note that as a Branch under the supervision of the National leadership and a subset of the PENGASSAN NEC we hereby restate our absolute commitment to the NEC resolution dated May 2, 2017 and National President’s directive; consequently PENGASSAN MPN Branch rejects in totality the ministerial directive in the referenced letter and assure you of our total commitment to the NEC resolution and further directive (s) from the National Secretariat.
“Please be rest assured of our utmost regard and loyalty.”
The striking workers had threatened to shut down Mobil operations nationwide starting from Friday night to compel MPNU management to reverse its decision and reabsorb sacked staff. They also threatened to their members in other oil firms to down tools should MPNU management fails to comply. However, as at the time of filing this report, the striking workers have not started implementing their threat to shut down operations.
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