AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Nigerians may face tougher days ahead as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) begins an indefinite nationwide strike today (Monday).
The industrial action, which took effect at 12:01 a.m., is expected to disrupt crude oil and gas supply, with possible ripple effects on fuel distribution and electricity supply across the country.
Already, oil marketers have warned of looming shortages that could trigger a hike in pump prices.
PENGASSAN’s directive to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has heightened concerns in the energy sector.
Power generation companies have also announced the shutdown of all thermal plants, a move likely to worsen the electricity situation.
The strike was declared in protest against the reported sack of over 800 Nigerian workers at the Dangote Refinery for joining the union.
In a statement on Sunday, PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, accused the refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions, alleging that the dismissed workers were replaced by foreigners.
“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” the union insisted, while also alleging that military personnel had prevented its members from cutting supplies to the facility.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, disclosed that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, had summoned an emergency meeting between the union and the refinery management for Monday.
Meanwhile, the Forum of Concerned Nigerian Consumers has appealed to the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene urgently to avert a full-blown energy crisis.
