The labour unions in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) Workers on Friday resolved to suspend their planned strike, which would have shut down the entire country had it gone on as planned.
It was learnt that the planned strike was shelved owing to the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, who directed the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to immediately convene a meeting with the striking oil workers’ unions.
The meeting which began in the afternoon, held at the presidential villa.
According to a report by PREMIUM TIMES, the oil workers had downed tools over the management of their pensions.
The unions also demanded for more commitment to the Turn Around Maintenance of Nigeria’s four refineries.
Other demands of the unions include the need for increased allocation of crude oil for local refining to help reduce the increasing dependence on importation of petroleum products for domestic consumption.
“Government has given a commitment to resolve all issues particularly the issue of Turn Around Maintenance and increment of allocation of crude oil”, PENGASSAN secretary, Bayo Oluwoshile said.