Nigeria Losing Over 50 Million Dollars As Pan Ocean Workers Industrial Action Continues

Stakeholders Urge FG, Others To Intervene Urgently

By Phil Abha, Warri

The Nigerian Government is losing an estimated crude oil production of over Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira and over 50 million Dollars since the two unions NUPENGASSAN of Pan Ocean workers embarked on an industrial action against the management of Pan Ocean over non payment of salaries , pension remittances, welfare of workers among others.

Investigation revealed that Pan Ocean workers had issued several industrial action notices to the top management of the company in pursuance to their demands but to no avail until they shutdown OML 98, OML 147 fields as well as the major Gas plant line supplying Egbin Power plant last December 2020 which compelled NNPC, DPR, Pan Ocean top management for meetings and it was resolved and they were assured of meeting up their demands by federal government.

Further investigation revealed that Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN, Pan Ocean branch, Comrade Rex Aibangbee, NUPENG Branch Chairman, Comrade Aboy Udi, PENGASSAN as well as NUPENG National PRO, Comrade Cogent Ojobor and PENGASSAN, Warri Zonal Council Vice Chairman, Comrade Prince Audu Peter Oshiokhamele with NUPENGASSAN National President, Williams Eniredonana Akporehe and PENGASSAN National President comrade, Comrade Osifo Festus both unanimously declared and gave Pan Ocean and federal government as well as relevant agencies 48 hours starting from December 7, 2020 to meet up the demands of the workers or they shutdown their operations they reiterated that the two union presidents had directed that they shutdown operations if NNPC, NAPIMS Ministry of Petroleum doesn’t resolve the issue amicably by paying the workers what’s due them.

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Accordingly federal government in their joint meeting held with both NUPENFASSAN and their National leaders of agreed however that they NNPC will pay the workers 60 percent, while Pan Ocean takes care of their top management after it was reviewed the federal government agreed outright payment of 100 percent in order for easy takeover of the assets by NPDC.

Presently Pan Ocean has refused signing memorandum of Understanding with federal government through the NNPC its subsidiaries and staff of Pan Ocean in order to mandate release of fund to pay and settle the workers industrial unrest which has led to loss of almost 500 thousands barrels of crude oil per day production and almost losing about 900 million cubic feet of gas production occasioned due to shutting down of the various production well facilities.

Stakeholders in the oil and gas sectors are urging the federal government and the top management to urgently intervene in order to safe the economy from such huge lost and possible economic collapse if the industrial unrest continues.

They have stressed the need for government to prevail on Pan Ocean Top Management to settle the issue promptly in order to encourage peaceful and industrial harmony among workers and pan Ocean management.