Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Tensions escalated as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) embarked on a three-day warning strike in protest against the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The strike is a direct response to the SPDC’s alleged failure to provide palliatives to its workers, aimed at alleviating the adverse effects of the removal of petrol subsidies.
The demonstrators, hailing from the Port Harcourt branch, issued a stern ultimatum to the multi-national Oil Company (IOC), cautioning that they are prepared to bring operations to a standstill if their demands are not met.
Central to their grievances is the role of International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the contentious removal of the petrol subsidy. The protesting workers vehemently contended that Nigerian labor should not be subjected to subjugation within their own nation.
Championing their cause through placards and rallying cries, the workers explicitly demanded an end to what they perceive as discriminatory practices by the management of the multi-national oil giant. They demanded immediate action to counteract the spiraling costs of petrol and other essential commodities, an issue exacerbated by the subsidy removal championed by President Bola Tinubu.
As the warning strike continues, tensions remain high, and both PENGASSAN and SPDC are facing a critical juncture. The outcome of this stand-off could have far-reaching implications for the oil industry and labor relations in Nigeria.