By EMMANUELLA ANOKAM

The nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), on Monday, grounded the activities of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

It also paralyzed activities in the oil and gas agencies and parastatals under it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) checks in Abuja revealed that staff of the ministry and its agencies were locked out of their offices by the striking union staff.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA) had their main entrance gate locked and barricaded by PENGASSAN members.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) were also under lock and key.

NAN reports that PENGASSAN embarked on strike to protest over the sack of about 800 workers in the Dangote Refinery who allegedly belong to the association.

The union also accused management of the refinery of anti-labour practices and discrimination against local employees, prompting the Federal Government’s intervention.

The refinery had said that the termination of the appointments of some of its workers was due to repeated acts of sabotage that had raised significant safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.

In view of this, PENGASSAN had directed its members to halt supply of crude oil and gas to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery immediately and directed those in the field to down tool.

Meanwhile, at the entrance gate of these agencies, activities were paralyzed while, security personnel and union members were seen enforcing the strike directive.

An official of PENGASSAN at the NNPC Ltd, who pledged anonymity, also confirmed the shutdown of the company in compliance with directive from the striking union, adding that no one was allowed to gain entrance.

Nigerians await the outcome of the meeting of both parties being convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Muhammad Dingyadi in a move to reconcile them to prevent the crisis from escalating. (NAN)