FG Begins Talks With PENGASSAN Over Strike Action

The Federal government led by the Minister of Labor, Chris

Ngige, today began talks with leaders of the Petroleum and

Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN,

to end their 5-day strike action. According to both parties, the

dialogue have so far been satisfactory...

NUPENG however says the strike will still continue until all

issues that led to the call for the strike action is adequately

addressed. Among the grievance of the oil workers include;

staff redundancy and collective bargaining. Speaking after the

meeting which lasted over six hours at the Federal Ministry of

Labor, the Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Ibe

Kachikwu, said

"The meetings were collaborative. They were deliberate, they

were frank and solution seeking. In most of the key areas, we

had a good collaborative landing@he said Minister of Labor,

Chris Ngige, said the only issue outstanding at the moment is

the issue of unemployment in the sector "We only have one

issue outstanding and that is unemployment. and that matter

will be addressed tomorrow because the IOCs are not here.