PENGASSAN Takes a Stand: Union Withdraws Members Amid Controversial Eni Nigeria and NAOC JV Sale to Oando

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed its intent to withdraw all its members from both offices and field locations in response to the alleged sale of Eni Nigeria and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited to O and O Plc.

Eyong Survival, the Branch Chairman of Agip Group PENGASSAN in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, conveyed this decision during a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

He expressed dissatisfaction with Oando’s complete acquisition of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited and Eni Nigeria’s sale of its 20 percent equity share in NAOC JV to O and O, all without consulting or informing the union beforehand.

Survival pointed out that the union had already engaged in discussions with the company’s management once news of the sale of NAOC JV assets to O and O became public.

However, he claimed that the managing director had denied any knowledge of such a plan.

Survival also expressed concern that the sale of NAOC JV would potentially result in a significant number of its members losing their jobs, especially given the challenging economic conditions in the country.

According to him, “The Managing Director of Eni Nigeria, Mr. Fabrizio Bolondi, invited the workforce to a meeting on the 4th of September, 2023, and callously informed us that Eni has sold its 20 per cent equity share in NAOC JV, comprising OML 60, 61, 62 & 63, covering parts of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Imo States to Oando Nigeria Limited, transferring all her assets and liabilities to O and O, without recourse to outstanding financial obligations to the workers, vis-avis their employee savings plan, pension and gratuity.

“It is imperative to note that the Union being the workers representative was not pre-informed before the commencement of the sales agreement.

“Not long from date, the Union on hearing rumours on sales of the assets, held a meeting with the Management on 12 July 2023, where the question was put forward to Eni Nigeria Management if they had any plan of selling the NAOC JV assets to O and O or any other Company, but the managing director vehemently denied any plan of selling the JV assets.”

Continuing, he said, “Instead the MD made presentations on planned injection of IPP phase 2 generated power to the national grid, as well as, possible conversion of OPL 245 to OML by the Government.

“By the announcement of the sale of NAOC JV assets to OANDO, over 3000 indigenous workers may be thrown into the labour market as the details of their sales transaction were not made known.

“At the moment, a lot of NAOC workers have suddenly developed some health challenges as a result of that callous announcement made by the MD of Eni Nigeria.

“The union position is for due process to be followed by Eni Management. The Union has ordered a total withdrawal of her members from all offices and field locations of the company until a proper agreement is reached with Eni Nigeria and AGIP Group PENGASSAN.

“By that withdrawal action, gas supply to Indoranma has been affected, daily oil production on 30, 000nbbls of crude oil has been suspended, about 10mscf of LNG gas to NLNG has been cut off, and about 350MW of Okpai IPP power to the national grid has been shut down”.