Workers suspend planned strike after Chevron Nigeria recalls sacked employees

Oil and gas workers in Nigeria have suspended a planned industrial action to protest the sacking of some of their colleagues by Chevron Nigeria Limited after the oil giant reinstated them.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had issued a seven-day ultimatum to Chevron Nigeria and its contractors over the sackings and alleged other anti-labour actions and postures.

The body, however, suspended the strike ultimatum after the reinstatement of the sacked workers with dialogue on-going to quickly resolve other outstanding issues.

NUPENG, however, warned that the suspension of the strike ultimatum was not a total call off and may go on strike if it was unable to achieve a compromise in the on-going discussions with Chevron and it Contractors.

The NUPENG leadership said it ordered the suspension believing that Chevron management will act in good faith and decently in line with principles of social dialogue.

A statement issued by NUPENG on Wednesday and signed by the union President, Comrade Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawabi, read: “The leadership of the Union appreciates all relevant government agencies for their quick interventions on the matters in dispute.”