The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a stern warning that it will withdraw its members from all upstream operations if Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company fails to address its grievances.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, delivered the ultimatum during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, following last week’s picketing of the company’s headquarters over alleged anti-labour practices and abuse of the expatriate quota system, which reportedly marginalized skilled Nigerian workers.
Osifo emphasized that the failure to meet the union’s demands could lead to widespread disruptions in the oil sector, as PENGASSAN members constitute 90% of the upstream workforce. He warned that shutting down operations would have severe implications for Nigeria’s oil revenue and energy security.
“The government must decide whether to enforce Nigerian laws in favor of its citizens or side with Sterling Oil and foreign interests,” Osifo stated.
With tensions escalating, all eyes are on the government’s next move to avert a potential crisis in the nation’s oil industry.
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