PENGASSAN condemns brutal assault of oil, gas workers

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has condemned the brutal assault of its members in the oil and gas sector.

The assault was allegedly carried out by military personnel and operatives of other security agencies.

Mr Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, said this in a statement he jointly signed with Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, General Secretary of the union on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, PENGASSAN, strongly condemns the brutal and excessive use of force by the military and other security agencies.

“They are hired by Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services and its Labour Contractors against oil and gas workers at the Oritsetimeyin Oil and Gas Rig.

“This act negates the tenets of the Nigerian Constitution and all extant laws governing the operations in the nation’s oil and gas sector,”it said.

The union also said that it was on record that these dompanies were always violating signed agreements reached with various parties.

It said that this included the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on payments and other entitlements due to their workers dating back to 2022.

“We warn that if the reports indicate that oil and gas workers are violently ejected from the Rig any date soon, PENGASSAN will deploy every arsenal at its disposal to frustrate such moves.

“This unconscionable act represents a grave violation of human rights and known labour conventions. The use of military actions against unarmed workers is completely unjustifiable and disproportionate.

“This is because, it is the Nigerian workers who have been subjugated to unfair workplace policies, including being paid meager wages while working in a hazardous environment, that should be the complainant,’”it said.

The union therefore demanded for a full and transparent investigation into the incident, leading to the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for ordering and carrying out the brutal assault.

It said that the perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions under both national and international law.

“Furthermore, we demand a guarantee of the safety and security of all oil and gas workers on the Rigs. We also demand a commitment from the relevant authorities to uphold the rights of workers and engage in peaceful conflict resolution,” it said.