Nigeria Oil Unions Threaten Nationwide Strike Over Chevron Dispute

Nigeria’s two main oil unions have prepared their members for possible nationwide industrial action over a staffing dispute with Chevron, they said on Saturday, Naija News Understands.

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Nigeria, an OPEC member, is Africa’s largest oil producer and crude sales make up around two-thirds of government revenues in West Africa’s largest economy. The dilapidated state of its refineries means the country imports most of its refined fuel.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) accused U.S. oil major Chevron of attempting to sack thousands of Nigerian workers in violation of their contracts.

“NUPENG and PENGASSAN will not hesitate to embark on the nationwide industrial action on this matter and we have already placed our members on red alert should the management of Chevron remain recalcitrant or adamant to rescind its anti-labour decision,” the unions said in a joint statement.

The leaders of two unions representing blue-collar and managerial-level workers also  said that

We have already placed our members on red alert should the management of Chevron remain adamant to rescind its anti-labour decision, “Chevron’s decision is harmful to both the workers in the sector and Nigeria’s economy, they said.

NUPENG President, William Akporeha said the industrial action referred to would be a nationwide strike by members of the unions, who cover a broad range of jobs across the country’s oil industry.