PENGASSAN Decries Oil Workers’ Abduction in Niger Delta

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed regrets that abduction and killing of oil workers had returned to the Niger Delta.
The union made the observation in a letter signed by its Media and Information Officer, Mr. Babatunde Oke, and addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Rivers Government.
The letter, dated Sept. 3, was copied to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.  

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed regrets that abduction and killing of oil workers had returned to the Niger Delta.
The union made the observation in a letter signed by its Media and Information Officer, Mr. Babatunde Oke, and addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Rivers Government.
The letter, dated Sept. 3, was copied to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.  
It said that the menace could ruin Nigeria’s economy, and called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government to avert workers’ strike.
“Recently, two contractors were taken from the creeks; the wife of an SPDC employee was also abducted from her poultry farm, and another staff member abducted and subsequently killed.
“Workers’ fundamental right to life, right to movement and right to work without fear of victimisation/molestation are, again, being violated.
“Opinions are that the Federal Government and states in the Niger Delta have relaxed their intelligence, security and law enforcement responsibility, and gave room for renewed hostage taking,’’ it said.
The association said that the development had made multinational oil companies operating in the region to give a security alert to their employees.
“As a labour union, we will equally not shy away from our moral and constitutional role to direct our members to take cover accordingly.

“This may possibly lead to the withdrawal of service until the government and the relevant ministries, departments and agencies can ensure appropriate safety and security of lives,” the union said.
It also regretted continued oil theft, saying that the illegal activities could discourage investment in the oil and gas sector.