Lagos — In Nigeria, oil-producing and marketing companies' preference for hiring casual labour has provoked protest by junior workers in the industry who are threatening a work stoppage for two days this month
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (Nupeng) says its members will embark on a nation-wide strike on June 28-29, to protest against the use of casual workers by the oil companies. Nupeng said the protests would involve rallies, and all its members would stay away from work.
Nupeng accuses some oil companies of engaging in anti-union activities, with a systematic plan to weaken the union. Some of the oil companies retrench their members under the pretext of carrying out corporate restructuring, but fail to replace such members.
The result, says Nupeng, is that its membership has progressively thinned down, while the number of casual and contract workers in the industry now stands at 20,000--almost twice the number of full-time workers.
Just as the junior workers are threatening their protest action, the Warri branch of the industry's senior staff association, Pengassan at Chevron Nigeria Limited have also embarked on industrial action to protest against the use of casual labour and expatriate workers.
An official of the company said discussions between Chevron's management and Pengassan representatives was in progress. Pengassan later confirmed the meeting was taking place in Warri.
Protests have increased in the oil industry over the use of expatriate staff for jobs that Nigerians say should go to them. About 98 of Nigeria's crude is produced by joint ventures between the government and seven oil companies. Government holds an average of 57 percent equity in these ventures, but the Nigerian workers say the senior management positions do not reflect this shareholding structure.
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Nupeng said Thursday, while inaugurating the Lagos State Chapter of the Union, that it was going ahead with its planned protest because the government had failed to respond to its complaints.
Withdrawal of services by Nupeng's members could affect all activities in Nigeria's oil industry, from the supply of refined products, to production and loading of crude oil for export at the terminals.
They are also employed by oil service companies, including those rendering services such as oil well logging, oil well cementing, and well drilling. All such activities could be disrupted by the protest.
Nupeng played a significant role in the fight against military dictatorship - especially from the nullification of the 1993 general elections by General Ibrahim Babangida, up to the days of late General Abacha's heavy-handed rule between 1994-98. Its leadership declared a nationwide strike, disrupting oil production and export, as well as distribution of refined products in the country.
And in recent times since the return to civilian rule two years ago, strike actions by members of this union have also added to the recurring scarcity of refined petroleum products in the country.
