Tag Archives: PENGASSAN

NUPENG, PENGASSAN oppose plan to hike price of fuel

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Petroleum workers yesterday kicked against the plan by government to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) otherwise known as NUPENGASSAN, made this known yesterday in their position papers to the Chairman, Ad-Hoc House of Representatives Committee on the Review of Pump Price of Premium Motor Spirit.

NUPENGASSAN maintained: “This is not the right time to review the pricing template of PMS due to certain reasons.”

However, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru dismissed reports of any upward review of the price of petrol.

His counterpart at the Nigeria Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC), Mr. Farouk Ahmed also spoke in the same vein, saying his outfit can no longer worsen the rate of the average Nigerian with a fuel price increase.

Both spoke yesterday before the same ad hoc committee in Abuja.

Baru, who was represented by NNPC’s chief Executive Officer, Downstream, Henry Ikem-Obih, faulted the notions that NNPC stopped supply of fuel to marketers since last week. He said the coastal price of the product to marketers still stood at N123 per litre.

Ahmed, who assured that his outfit would ensure availability of fuel through its retail outlets, remarked that there was nothing his outfit could do to reduce the price of kerosene and diesel since the prices of the products have been deregulated.

He blamed foreign exchange problems for the high cost of the products. The NPMC chief expressed optimism that the involvement of more marketers and repair of pipelines remains the solution to the shortage of the products across the country.

NUPENG calls off 3-day warning strike

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The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Wednesday in Abuja called off its three-day nationwide warning strike.

NUPENG’s President, Igwe Achese, announced the suspension at a meeting called at the instance of Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

Other groups at the meeting were the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Nigeria National Petroleum Co-operation (NNPC), National Salaries and Wages Commission, oil and Servicing companies, among others.

NUPENG gave a notice of three-day warning strike on Tuesday, over disputes with International Oil Companies, over indiscriminate sack of workers without benefits and refusal to allow their workers to join union.

“I am happy to say that each and every issue raised has been addressed and I hope that all parties will be committed to implement the agreement.

“We have therefore decided to call off the three- day warning strike. ‘’

Mr. Achese commended the minister for his intervention in addressing the issues raised by the union.

Mr. Ngige urged all oil companies that entered into the collective agreement to ensure its implementation.

He also commended PENGASSAN for also calling off its two-weeks warning strike.

The minister gave the oil companies two weeks to resolve all outstanding issues.

JUST IN: FG, NUPENG, PENGASSAN To Convene In Abuja

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Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, is expected to meet today with the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN).

 

The meeting is expected to trash out disagreement between the unionist and oil companies over staff welfare.

 

The federal government is mediating on the matter as it did in 2016.

 

After Wednesday’s meeting, it would then be determined whether to proceed on the strike action as a follow up to the three-day warning notice earlier issued by the union.

PENGASSAN Warns Mobil To Reinstate 150 Sacked Workers

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Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has warned Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPNU, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, to immediately reinstate the over 150 of its members sacked by the company.

This was contained in a statement, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, co-signed by Festus Osifo, Chairman and Aruoture Ugavah, Secretary, of PENGASSAN Producers Forum.

The statement noted that the action of the oil firm was pre-empting, because MPNU sacked the workers who are members of PENGASSAN when discussions between the union and the company were ongoing.

The union, said: “It has come to our notice that the management of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPNU, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, has served disengagement letters to more than 150 of our members in their employment.

“This heinous disengagement was done even as discussion was still ongoing in that regard between the association (PENGASSAN) and ExxonMobil management. We view the action of MPNU management as premeditated and aimed at destroying the existing peace in the industry.

“MPNU management’s action is also a deliberate expression of disrespect and disregard to the association, labour laws and Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, duly signed by both the association and ExxonMobil Management.”

PENGASSAN called on all stakeholders, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Department of Petroleum Resource and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to prevail on MPNU to return to the negotiating table.

Read More:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/pengassan-warns-mobil-reinstate-150-sacked-workers/

Kachikwu halts ExxonMobil’s sack of Nigerian staff

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Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, has halted the sack of Nigerian employees at ExxonMobil Nigeria, but until January 10, 2017.

Kachikwu met with the the management of the oil company and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Tuesday at the NNPC House in Abuja.

At the end of the meeting, the union and the company, alongside the NNPC and the ministry of petroleum resources, signed a communique, which will be binding on all parties involved.

Mobil Producing Nigeria and PENGASSAN Communique Signing 1

Communique Signing

The communique mandated that “the separation programme is hereby suspended, pending the submission of the report by the ministerial committee and the determination of the issues arising from the report by the honourable minister”.

“It was further agreed that management is free to implement for non-represented employees and any voluntary cases already signed on to,” the communique read.

“The union members involuntarily impacted by the separation programme will remain on Mobil’s payrool but shall not return to work pending the conclusion of the review on the ministerial committee.

Mobil Producing Nigeria and PENGASSAN Communique Signing 2

Communique Signing

The communique also said the committee shall submit its recommendation to “not later than January 10, 2017?, hence, the strike was immediately suspended.

The communique was signed by Francis Johnson, PENGASSAN president, Udom Inoyo, for Mobil Producing Nigeria, Falonipe Amos, with the ministry of petroleum resources, and Isa Inuwa, NNPC’s corporate services chief operating officer.

UPDATE: PENGASSAN shuts down Lagos Exxonmobil Office, promises to shutdown more.

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As reported by Omojuwa.Com yesterday, the Lagos office of Oil & Gas giant, ExxonMobil was shutdown by PENGASSAN members over arbitrary sack of its employees who are Nigerian citizens.

 

Further investigations carried out by Omojuwa.Com revealed that the feud has actually just begun as the PENGASSAN in a statement made available by the Lagos Branch Secretary, Abel Nwobodo revealed that plans are underway to withdraw their services totally from all operating locations by Midday Thursday (15 Dec).

 

In his statement, Mr Abel Nwobodo thanked his comrades for a successful shutdown of the ExxonMobil Lagos office and also promised more necessary and justified actions will be taken to drive home their points.

 

Below is the full statement issued to all PENGASSAN members by the Branch Secretary:

 

Comrades, We thank you for your camaraderie today from all our locations. We have started very well. The plan is to increase the tempo from tomorrow morning -15 Dec. 2016.

 

The plan is to withdraw our services totally from all our operating locations by Midday tomorrow (15 Dec). The secretariat will keep you informed and updated as we arrive at that threshold.

 

Please, all should endeavor to be at the office early tomorrow morning. Injury to one, is an injury to all!

 

Esteemed Regards

 

Abel Nwobodo

Branch Secretary

08172068898

BREAKING: Exxonmobil Office in Lagos shutdown by PENGASSAN.

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Fresh reports coming from a reliable source, has it that the Exxonmobil office in Lagos Nigeria was today shut down following a dispute between the employees union (PENGASSAN) and Mobil management on initiating an arbitrary sack of Nigerian employees without conclusive negotiations.

 

It is unclear whether the Union will extend the shutdown to offshore facilities but it is certain that the feud between PENGASSAN members and the Mobil Management is far from over.

 

It was reported that the office at 1 Lekki Expressway, Victoria Island was under lock and key as PENGASSAN members decried the arbitrary sack of their Nigerian employees.

 

We shall update you on further happenings as the details of this crisis unfold.

PENGASSAN vows to resist sale of NNPC

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has vowed to resist any attempt by the Federal Government to sell its stakes in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to Punch, the spokesman of PENGASSAN, Emmanuel Ojugbana said the union’s stand on the issue still remains the same.

This is coming on the heels of a proposal by the petroleum ministry on November 10, 2016, suggesting the sale of the government’s stakes in NNPC.

Ojugbana said “Actually, the government is trying to revisit the Petroleum Industry Bill and that may have to do with the draft document being reported. But we have not engaged with them in order to know the implication of what is in the draft or the bill. However, we have already made our position clear and I’m restating it that we are not in support of any attempt to sell our national assets.

“But if there are other policies of government that will enhance the oil and gas industry, we are in support of that. So, we need to understand what the draft proposal is all about and then we will make our contributions. But as per the sale of assets, PENGASSAN is completely against it and should be counted out.

“We are not in support of the sale of our national assets; we will only give support to policies that aim to create adequate governance structures, as this will provide more business opportunities, which is good for the Nigerian people. In times like this, the government should not consider the sale of assets belonging to the NNPC, for we will oppose it seriously.”

He also added that PENGASSAN will support the Federal Government if it comes up with options that will benefit Nigerians.

Lending his voice, PENGASSAN Secretary-General, Lumumba Okugbawa said the union is looking forward to holding talks with the Federal Government.

Okugbawa also said the government should not be allowed to sell national assets that belong to Nigerians.

He said “Our position still remains the same that they cannot sell our national assets. It is not to be allowed. We don’t have the details of which company they want to sell in the NNPC. Is it the Kaduna, Warri or Port Harcourt refinery? Is it a different subsidiary of the NNPC, or is it the entire NNPC? These are things we need to find out.

“But no matter what it may be, our position stays and it is that the government should not be allowed to sell our collective national assets. There should be better ways to handle things, not by selling our national assets. So, we look forward to having better dialogue with the government.”

 Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo recently called for an urgent reform of the NNPC business operations model.

NUPENG, PENGASSAN threaten strike over sack of 3,000 members.

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Two leading unions in the oil industry, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and National Gas (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have raised the alarm over the sacking of 3, 000 of its members and subsequently issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government to put a stop to it.

The National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, who addressed the media at the end of the Central Working Committee (CWC), meeting of the union in Effurun, Delta state, said government must do something urgently to stop the mass retrenchment of its members to avoid grounding the industry.

Achese disclosed that most of the companies, like Chevron Nigeria Limited, ExxonMobil, Pan Ocean, Sapiem, and Hercules oil and gas limited, among others, have terminated the appointment of over 3,000 of their workers apparently over the current economic recession in the country.

“More than 3,000 of our members are affected,” Achese said, adding that “Chevron alone is about 1,500, Mobil is about 1,000 and the entire workers of Hercules Oil & Gas are being asked to go home, Pan Ocean have since closed shop and are gone. Industry-wide everybody is being asked to go.

“We are now asking ourselves where we are heading to with the industry. We have lost so much of Nigerian personnel working in the oil and gas industry. What is happening in Nigeria cannot be compared to what is happening in other African countries. We want government to wake up and address some of these issues.”

Achese said if government failed to act and direct the oil companies to stop this ongoing retrenchment of their members, they would be compelled to act to protect their interest.

PENGASSAN, NUPENG Call Off Strike

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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have called off their strike after a meeting with the Federal Government.

Leadership of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, yesterday met with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu,

Credit: Vanguard

NNPC Commences Dialogue With PENGASSAN

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The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on Friday opened discussion with the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The move is to stop the union members from going ahead with their proposed industrial ac­tion.

Group General Manager, Public Affairs Di­vision, NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, said in a statement in Abuja Friday that the Corpo­ration has commenced talks with the leader­ship of the Union to address their grievances.

Mohammed further said, NNPC has assured that it is doing everything possible to guaran­tee that the prevailing sanity in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, which was achieved with the recent downstream liberation policy is sustained.

He however, cautioned members of the pub­lic from embarking on any form of panic buy­ing of petroleum products in anticipation of product scarcity due to the strike by members of the union.

He said the corporation has in stock enough products to satisfy local consumption for the next 45 days noting that there is no need for motorists and other users of petroleum prod­ucts to embark on frenzied wholesale purchase in anticipation of scarcity.

Credit: Sun

NUPENG, PENGASSAN To Meet In Calabar Over New Pump Price

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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) will on May 12 and 13 deliberate on the new pump price announced by Federal Government.

Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of the union disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to him, it is too early to make any official statement until the two bodies meet to deliberate on the matter.

He said that the meeting would discuss the new development and come out with a stand on the matter.

Korodo, however, said that no official of the two oil workers labour unions was authorised to speak on the new pump price as announced by the government.

The Federal Government on May 11, announced a new price regime for petrol with the highest price of N145 per litre.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) said in Abuja that the new price regime had taken effect from May 11.

The NNPC, however, advised its retail stations on the outskirts of major cities to sell at prices lower than N145 per litre.

 

(NAN)

Buhari Meets Leadership Of NUPENG, PENGASSAN

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President Muhammadu Buhari is presently in a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers at the State House.

The purpose of the meeting was not disclosed to journalists but it may be connected to the recent restructuring at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

The meeting is attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr Lawal Daura and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari.

Earlier on March 8, 2016,  Dr. Kachikwu announced the restructuring of the NNPC,  however, oil workers kicked against the announcement and proceeded on industrial action.

The action was later suspended for 14 days, for government to dialogue with the unions and chart a way forward in the sector.

Meanwhile, queues still trail petrol stations across the country and this may form part of their discussion at the Presidential Villa.

Dr. Kachikwu is expected to brief the media on the outcome of the meeting.

NUPENG, PENGASSAN Suspend Strike

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There is a big relief nationwide among citizens, following the suspension of national strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The PENGASSAN President, Comrade Johnson Francis told Channels Television on Thursday, that the action was taken after the intervention of the Presidency and the clarification made by the Petroleum Ministry.

PENGASSAN’s acting General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa adds that the decision was taken  after 10 hours of talk, ending at about 3am between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, NNPC Executives and union officials.

“Management agreed that there would be further collaboration … with a view to considering any suggested amendments. Our input would be taken into consideration,”

The unions have been directed to resume work and ensure that there is adequate supply of fuel.

Mr Johnson also called on Nigerians to bear with the unions, assuring that everything is under control to ensure the fuel crisis do not linger for long.

Credit: ChannelsTv

NUPENG, PENGASSAN Condemn Moves To Unbundle NNPC

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Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN counterpart, have said moves to unbundle Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, into 30 companies without following due process by the Federal government, is illegal.

 

NUPENG and PENGASSAN in separate statements yesterday, said the moves was an attempt to provoke the Oil and Gas workers and cause industrial unrest in the country In the statement by its Acting General Secretary, Joseph Ogbebor, NUPENG said:

 

“We condemn the unilateral action of the Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, as the decision is not in consonance with the laws establishing the NNPC. The unbundling and rebranding of NNPC as announced by the Minister of State is another public policy change which is not consistent with the Act and Laws establishing NNPC and will be resisted by Oil and Gas workers in the country. ”

 

NUPENG will not tolerate a situation whereby the unbundled companies will now hide under the cover to start disengaging its workers. Job creation and job security has been the change mantra of the current administration.

 

The move is to kill the NNPC by all means but that government officials should know that the Corporation is a creation of law and that it will take the repealing of the original Act to effect the changes that they are planning to do. On its part, PENGASSAN in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, said the government’s move is tantamount to a somersault.

 

He said, “There is an existing NNPC Act of 1977 that set up the NNPC. This Act has many provisions that deal with structure and operations of the corporation. There are many issues such as pensions and transfer of the employees, which are provided for in the NNPC Act of 1977. What will happen to all these provisions of the law?

”For the government to do anything with the current NNPC, the Act must either be repealed or amended to accommodate the planned restructuring. If not done, it will equal to lack of respect for the rule of law on the part of the government.

“The Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that is expected to be the legal instrument for the ongoing reforms of the Oil and Gas industry will be meaningless if the Government should introduce plans outside the reforms, The PIB is germane to the development of the nation’s Oil and Gas Industry.”

 

Credit : Vanguard

Why PPPRA Shuts Down PENGASSAN Offices

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The offices of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency across the country were shut down by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, on Tuesday.

PPPRA Branch, as result of issues bordering on the appointment of an acting executive secretary for the agency.

The agency’s headquarters in Abuja when after Mbaba was sent on an official assignment to Lagos, one Mrs. Sotonye Iyoyo, who is not a staff of the agency was allegedly sent by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to head the PPPRA as its new acting ES.

Last week Thursday, the former Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, handed over to the most senior management staff of the organisation, Mr. Moses Mbaba, who is the organisation’s General Manager, Administration and Human Resources.

Credit: DailyTimes

PENGASSAN Faults Revenue Drain On Importation Of Petroleum Products

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on President Muhamadu Buhari to increase local refining capacity before embarking on any deregulation process.

This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by PENGASSAN National Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojugbana.

The union called on the president to ensure that the focus of deregulation policy was based on local production rather than importation.

It said that if local refining was not increased to meet local demand for petroleum products, especially the premium motor spirit (petrol), removing subsidy on petroleum products would bring more hardship on Nigeria.

It stated that removing subsidy while the country depended on importation of refined products would make prices of refined products to be out of the reach of the masses and would cause inflation.
It said that importation of refined petroleum products was a major drain on the nation’s revenue, adding that it created jobs for the refining nations in spite of the high unemployment rate confronting Nigeria.

“Importation of refined petroleum products is also putting the Naira under undue pressure and creating social problems for the economy. This is unacceptable to PENGASSAN.

“Abrupt removal of fuel subsidy will create chaos that may ground the economy.
“PENGASSAN calls for well-coordinated measures with timeline to achieve self-sufficiency in local refining as a means of proffering acceptable steps to end fuel subsidy.

“This should be combined with such other measures for effective optimisation of gas, especially for domestic, industrial, electricity and automotive energy. Such will create other affordable and friendly sources for energy needs” it stated.

Credit: Vanguard

Fuel Scarcity: NLC Set To Order Workers To Stay Home

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday threatened to direct workers to stay at home if the fuel scarcity being experienced across the country pasisted.

The NLC Deputy National President, Isa Aremu stated this in a statement made available to NAN on Monday in Kaduna.

The NLC statement is coming barely four days before the PDP led government would handover the affairs of the nation to the new President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, May 29.

“If the Current scarcity and price robbery of Nigerians continues NLC will have no choice but compel workers to stay at home.

“Workers certainly cannot fuel themselves to work with their blood. There is limit to slavery and state marketers’ extortion.

“With an outgiong president and incoming one, five past heads of state alive, 36 state governors and hundreds of legislators and scores of ministers, no country on earth parades the highest number of state actors like Nigeria.

“Yet there is no governance with respect to distribution of basic products like petroleum and kerosene.”

According to him, it is time Nigerians stop agonising in the hands of cabals holding the nation to ransom for several weeks through deliberate deprivation of petroleum products.

“What is happening in Nigeria amounts to economicide, which is a conscious subjugation of 170 million people to economic ruination through unsustainable petroleum import-based racket.

“This is an unofficial declaration of war against the citizens by combined forces of irresponsible ruling elite and bussiness crooks.”

“This agony of capitalism must be mass resisted by all Nigerians,” he said.

Oil Blocks Sale: PENGASSAN, NUPENG Shut Down Oil Facilities Nationwide

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have directed employees of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to shut down indefinitely their locations and all oil production facilities nationwide in a bid to force the minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the federal government to reverse the transfer of operatorship of OMLs 42, 40 and 30.

THE WILLS also reports that the assets were previously operated by Shell.

The directive to shut down the facilities was issued yesterday by the executive councils of the PENGASSAN and NUPENG.

A petroleum industry source with knowledge of the development told the online medium that all branch chairmen of the powerful unions have been directed to fully implement the directive starting from tomorrow, May 20, 2015.

The unions are aggrieved that the sale of the assets did not follow due process and would affect the fortunes of the NPDC and its workers.

Mr. Emeka Offor’s Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, a joint venture company of Eland Oil & Gas Plc, was awarded the operatorship of OML 40, while Mr. Ernest Ezedialu Obiejesi’s NECONDE is the operator of OML 42.

Sources in the sector say three flow stations have already been shut down in the creeks of the Niger Delta ahead of tomorrow’s total shutdown.

Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa with an estimated daily production capacity of 2.2 million barrels per day.