By ESENVOSA IZAH

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd. Of violating Nigeria’s labour laws and rules.

The PENGASSAN President, Mr Festus Osifo, made the allegation during picketing of the oil company by PENGASSAN on Tuesday on Victoria Island in Lagos State.

Osifo alleged that members of the union working in the oil company had been subjugated, describing their welfare as abysmal.

According to him, Nigerians, who have worked in the company for years, have been repressed.

“Our members in Sterling have been pushed to the background.

“They should tell us how many Nigerians working in Sterling today, who are managers.

“They should tell us how many Nigerians working in Sterling, who are general managers.

“When you go to other international oil and gas companies, you have Nigerians even as managing directors, deputy managing directors, executive general managers, general managers,” he said.

The union leader also alleged that the company had over 10,000 expatriates, all from the same country.

“In Sterling, we have expatriates as gatemen, vulcanizers; we have expatriates making tea, we have expatriates who are cooking for Nigerians to eat in Nigeria,” Osifo said.

The union leader also accused the company of sacking some PENGASSAN members, and called for their reinstatement.

He said that the picketing was the first in the series of activities which the union would be carrying out at Sterling.

He warned that such activities would continue until resolution of the conflict.

He called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the matter.

“If this is not corrected, this has the propensity to lead to a national strike, where we will call out our members across the nooks and crannies of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.”

Efforts by NAN to get the management of the oil company to react to the allegations proved abortive.

Several telephone calls to the organisation rang but was not answered.

Earlier, members of the union carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Reinstate Sacked Nigerian Workers” and “Stop Collective Bargaining Agreement Victimisation”.

They also chanted protest songs. (NAN)

•PHOTO: Members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria picketing Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Company Ltd. On Tuesday on Victoria Island, Lagos State