By Dipo Olowookere
Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) working at ExxonMobil Nigeria have commenced an industrial action.
Officials of the oil and gas union said it plans a total shutdown of the firm’s operations by Friday midnight.
“Final shutdown will be with the withdrawal of our members in Qua Iboe Terminal with about 14 locations and many well ends by Friday midnight,” PENGASSAN threatened in a statement.
Already, the union has begun a gradual withdrawal from all oil and gas installations across the country belonging to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, a subsidiary of United States’ ExxonMobil Corporation.
“Our members have begun gradual withdrawal from oil and gas installations belonging to Mobil in Nigeria.
“Our members in the loading bay at best operations platform, where crude oil is loaded, have been withdrawn; while those in Erha and Usan FPSO will be joining by midnight on Wednesday and those in Bonny River Terminal will join by midnight Thursday, Lagos Zonal Chairman of PENGASSAN, Mr Abel Agarin, said.
The union is kicking against the refusal of management of the oil firm to honour an agreement reached during a tripartite meeting with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Chris Ngige, the union and the company in Abuja some months ago.
In December, the firm sacked 83 workers, but the union kicked against this and the Minister urged the company to review the move, which it agreed to do.
PENGASSAN accused Mobil of not honouring this agreement and it started picketing the company.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya