Nigeria Oil Union Suspends Three-Day Nationwide Strike After Talks
ABUJA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - A Nigerian oil labour union has suspended a nationwide three-day strike over job losses that hit petrol stations and oil tankers, following talks with the government on Wednesday.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is one of several labour unions that have criticised oil companies for sacking workers in the last few months.
Nigeria has been hit hard by a slump in crude oil prices in the past two years, which helped to push the country into recession. A wave of militant attacks in the southern Niger Delta oil hub throughout 2016 has hampered production.
The decision to call off the industrial action followed talks with Nigeria's labour minister in the capital, Abuja.
"All issues have been addressed one after the other. We are very satisfied with the commitment shown," said NUPENG President Igwe Achese.
"We have decided to suspend the three day strike that commenced today and also asked our members... to do all that is necessary to keep the industry flowing," he added.
On the issue of severance packages and benefits, Labour Minister Chris Ngige said workers will be entitled to all their entitlements, salaries and allowances. He did not elaborate.
The minister said the talks had led to "very fruitful conclusions" and there would be another meeting on Jan. 24.
The strike was the latest in a number of walk-outs orchestrated by NUPENG.
Earlier on Wednesday, the union said workers had gone on strike at seven crude oil flow stations in and around Oleh, a town in Delta state, which is in the Niger Delta.
Union officials could not immediately be reached to clarify whether the strike suspension included these stations.
Last week, the labour union held a strike at Total's fuel depots in a protest over sackings, but it was suspended after one day once an agreement was reached. No details have emerged about that deal.
(Additional reporting by Anamesere Igboeroteonwu in Onitsha and Tife Owolabi in Yenagoa; Editing by Jane Merriman and Alexander Smith)
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Weatherford CEO's Rebound Plan Relies On Getting Smaller
- Iran Says Oil Market Is Too Tight For US Zero Exports Target
- China's Squeezed 'Teapots' Eye Petchem Path To Riches
- Baker Hughes: US Drillers Add Oil Rigs For Second Week In Three
- Venezuela Hands China More Oil Presence, But No Mention Of New Funds
- ExxonMobil Racks Up Discoveries in Guyana Block Eyed by Chevron
- Oil Market Sentiment Has Improved Significantly
- EU, US Eye Collaboration on Nuclear Materials
- USA Driving Activity to Increase to All-Time Highs
- TC Energy to Sell Prince Rupert Gas Pipeline Project to First Nation
- EU Electricity Export to Ukraine Up 94 Percent in Two Years
- China Coal Output Falls for First Time since Government Ordered More
- BP Pulse Buys One of Europe's Largest Truck Stops
- UK CCUS Plans Outdated: Think Tank
- North America Enters Rig Loss Streak
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- EIA Drops 2024 Henry Hub Gas Price Forecast
- EIA and Standard Chartered Offer Up Latest Oil Price Predictions
- Red Sea Region Sees Another Watershed Incident
- Chevron Oil Project in Kazakhstan to Cost $48.5B
- OPEC Voices Encouragement after IEA Affirms Support for Oil Security
- Biden Govt Bares Strategy for Freight Charging, Hydrogen Fueling Infra
- Ukraine Hits Third Russian Refinery In Escalating Drone Strikes
- Rystad Looks at the Buzz Around White Hydrogen
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Is Peak Oil Demand Close?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Reveal Latest Oil Price Forecasts
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Rystad Forecasts Net Production of Top Permian Producers in 2024
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension