Nigeria's Economy Faces Depletion.... As NUPENGASSAN Shut Down OML 147, 98 Over Unpaid Severances

 Nigeria losing 30 thousand crude oil Bpd, Gas, power plant others cutoff 
*Staff demand signing of MOU by Pan Ocean for salaries payment



The joint union of Nigeria Union of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Tuesday  March 30, 2021 shutdown OML 98, OML 147 the Pan Ocean Flow Station fields now being partially taken over by NPDC at Ovade  Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State.
The shutting down of the flow station will cause  Nigeria's economy further depletion as the country begins losing over 30 thousand barrel per day crude as well as 50 million cubic of Gas  daily and it will plunge  Egbin Power Plant and those areas and states they supply into darkness.



The National body of the two Unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN have ordered for the shutting down of the flow station; 147 and 98 due to several months of unpaid severances of the workers of Pan Ocean, which the management and federal government signed more than a year ago without implementation, thus leading to non-payment of workers.

They are however angry that after several months of writing series of letters of reminders to Pan Ocean Management to  pay them, yet the PAN OCEAN Management have refused obliging to the signing of agreement for the workers salaries and severances to be paid.

OML 98 and OML 147 located in Oredo in Edo state and other companies flowing through Pan Ocean flow station have all  been affected as 30 thousand barrel per day crude oil goes off Nigeria quantum of crude daily production.

They are accusing the Management of Pan Ocean of insensitivity and high handedness in refusing to play their own part.

The workers noted that NNPC, NAPIMS and relevant government agencies are ready to pay but Pan Ocean Management have vehemently refused to play their role for funds to be released in order for them to be paid.

They are demanding for the immediate signing of a Memorandum of Understanding MOU, in order for the Federal Government to make payments which their refusal as Pan Ocean management has delayed their payment.

They stated further that they have not being paid full salary for past four months, no payment of three years pension, no payment of tax for the  past seven years as well as other allowances.

The two Unions are accusing Pan Ocean of unnecessary delay in order for easy takeover of the assets by the federal government as they have also stressed that the NNPC GMD, Engr. Mele Kyari has waded into the matter assuring of paying the workers but the top management of Pan Ocean are not agreeing to sign the MOU for payment of the unionised workers, 60 percent of what they are owing them but the top management Committee of Pan Ocean have refused signing the MOU sparking up the present industrial unrest between the workers and the company.

It could be recalled that the NUPENG Branch Chairman, Comrade Aboy Udi, PENGASSAN Branch Chairman, Comrade Rex Aibangbee as well as NUPENG National PRO, Comrade Cogent Ojobor and PENGASSAN Warri Zonal Council Vice Chairman, Comrade Prince Audu Peter Oshiokhamele with NUPENG National President, Williams Eniredonana Akporehe and PENGASSAN National President Comrade Osifo Festus both  unanimously declared and gave Pan Ocean and the Federal Government as well as relevant agencies, 48 hours starting from December 7, 2020 to meet up the demands of the workers or they will shutdown their operations.

They reiterated that the presidents of the two Unions have directed that they will shutdown operations if NNPC, NAPIMS and the Ministry of Petroleum do not resolve the issues amicably by paying the workers what is due them.

After that directive and shutdown strike, the two Unions were called for a meeting after five days of shutting down the oil well flow stations last December, 2020 and it was however resolved 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.

Meanwhile, all Pan Ocean operational bases including its corporate headquarters in Lagos, have also shutdown operations in solidarity, joining the workers industrial action embarked upon Tuesday.

The Uniins have also threatened total shutdown of other companies flowing through their lines if their demands are not met within seven days of their warning strike action.