PENGASSAN vows to resist ‘no-work no-pay’ policy

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has vowed to resist the ‘no work no pay’ policy, about to be enforced by the Federal Government.

President of PENGASSAN, Olabode Johnson, said in Abuja that although the policy was part of the country’s labour laws, he blamed incessant strikes on government officials that have continually ignored strike notices even when they were given 24 days ultimatum.

His words: “The ‘no work no pay’ policy is part of Nigeria’s labour laws but the labour movement in Nigeria will not accept it because the implementation of the policy will seriously negate and threaten the right of labour unions to embark on legitimate strikes.

“There are processes that must be followed before a strike is led. The first is 24 days notice followed by 14 days and then final seven-day notice. We expect government officials to call for a meeting to look at the issues in dispute within these notices.

“But what we find in Nigeria is that government officials would ignore strike notice only for them start running helplessly when the strike is called and labeled unions as insensitive and strike-happy people.”

He, however, lauded the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, for resolving the cash call funding with the International Oil Companies (IOCs) that prevented massive job losses in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking on the clamour for President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a substantive Minister for Petroleum Resources, Johnson argued that the sector could function effectively with the President retaining the petroleum resources portfolio.

“I think the reason the President retained the ministry is because of the enormous powers that the Minister of Petroleum Resources wields in the country.

“The Petroleum Act 1969 and NNPC Act of 1977 gave so much powers to the Minister that can be easily abused just as our recent experiences have shown. I think that the President can apportion powers between the power blocks in the sector that can ensure smooth running of the sector,” he added.