NUPENG Gives FG 21 Days To Halt Sack Of Workers By Oil Majors

Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, yesterday gave the Federal Government, a 21-day ultimatum to order the recall of  over 3,000 workers sacked by oil majors in the ongoing mass sack of workers in the sector or face a nationwide industrial action. A communique issued yesterday by the Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting in Warri, Delta State, lamented that the 3,000 workers were sacked by oil majors and oil servicing companies who were closing shop on account of the current recession.

In the communique read by Igwe Achese, NUPENG's President, the union also reprimanded the government for allegedly aggravating the crisis in the oil industry by its failure to meet its Joint Venture cash calls and stifling the populace by concentrating on the fight against corruption while the economy was left to suffer.

He said: "As I address you, Chevron has wound up its Eastern operations and its offices closed. A total OF 1,500 workers were sacked without their entitlements and nobody is saying anything. As we speak, many companies have left, others are winding up.

Exxon-Mobil has asked its contracts staff to go, insisting that it can no longer pay them. Pan Ocean, Saipem Grand Petroleum and Hercules Offshore, all around Warri, have closed shop. About 3,00 workers have already been sacked by various oil companies.

"The Federal Government should act fast to advert further loss of jobs. There are too many redundancies in the oil industry. NUPENG will take all necessary action to drive home its demand if government fails to act within 21 days.