Expert urges govt to dialogue with PENGASSAN on oil sector crisis

The Federal Government must dialogue with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as a foil to the persistent crisis facing the industry.

The Chairman of Industrial Global Union, Africa Region, Comrade Issa Aremu, wants the dialogue to be aimed at resolving issues that have always recurred.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, Aremu said it’s time Nigeria stopped the endless crises in petroleum sector like other Oil Producing and Exporting Countries.

According to him, this can be achieved through sustainable industrial policy and effective implementation of labour standards.

Others include the promotion of collective bargaining, income adequacy for the workers, job security, promotion of dialogue between industry and trade unions and enforcement of labour laws that restrict precarious work.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to diversify the economy must not lead to abandonment of commitment in the extractive sector, such as irregular joint venture funding and cash call payments.

He said that “real diversification of the economy must start with oil and gas industry through value-added processing and manufacturing, which promote mass job creation, transfers of skills and technologies.

“It was unacceptable that Nigeria exports limited crude oil and gas, whilst same time importing wholesale value-added petroleum based products such as diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil, fertilizers, etc. with attendant loss of scarce foreign exchange, loss of few jobs at home and even scandalous export of jobs”.

Aremu observed that the current “adhoc reactive “buy-the-peace” in the sector must give way to a proactive wholistic industrial development plan that must start with the passage of the age long Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)” adding that the greatest allies of the government are the sector unions; PENGASSAN and NUPENG if properly engaged in genuine social dialogue.

He said the industry is a key driver of jobs and development for national economies and the foundation of good living standard and called for strong industrial policies that advance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

The Africa regional Chairman of the 50 million members Industrial Global Union urged the Federal Government to take urgent measures to address the legitimate demands of the oil workers and save the economy from the negative impact of the ongoing industrial action by the workers.