NNPCL Resolves Dispute Between PENGASSAN And TotalEnergies, Restores 275,000bpd Production

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said that it brokered a peace deal to settle the lingering rift between the management of TotalEnergies and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association/Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers.

It explained that following the peace deal the unions have agreed to suspend the ongoing industrial action against TotalEnergies, adding that this led to an immediate restoration of 275,000 barrels of crude oil per day. TotalEnergies is the operator of the NNPC/Total Joint Venture.

The organised labour had accused Fedoz Nigeria Limited, an oil servicing firm, of sacking three members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, an affiliate of TUC, without due process; while also accusing TotalEnergies of refusing to increase workers’ salaries to meet up with the prevailing economic situation in the country.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, adding that in a communique issued at the end of a marathon negotiation session chaired by Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPCL, all parties committed to resolving all the issues within an agreed framework.

The communique was signed by TotalEnergies MD/CEO, Matthieu Bouyer; PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo; and NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha.

It was witnessed by NNPC Ltd, EVP Upstream, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and Mr. Bala Wunti, Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services. Also in attendance was Mr Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, TotalEnergies.”

The communique read in part, “TotalEnergies EP Nigeria had confirmed on Thursday that the company’s in-house branch of PENGASSAN had embarked on an industrial action related to the annual collective bargaining process

“The company fully understands the importance of our industry to the socio-economic development of Nigeria and collaborates with all stakeholders to improve the condition of its employees and stakeholders.

“Accordingly, and in the context of the current economic challenges, we have been engaging with unions since July in a collective negotiating process leading to salaries increase proposals above the inflation.

“We remain committed to exploring all legitimate means to arrive at a sustainable resolution of the ongoing situation.”