PENGASSAN Shuts Down Kaduna Refinery, Disrupts Fuel Supply

The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC) has been shut down in the aftermath of the strike embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN). The Union had last week downed tools over the non-implementation of the 2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement it reached with the government as well as issues relating to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).


The oil industry workers had added in the list of their complaints the perceived inhuman condition under which they operate, especially with regard to lack of power and bad roads.
It was gathered yesterday that the shutdown expectedly paralysed supply of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) as depot officials were not on ground to attend to tanker drivers who had arrived the distribution point to commence loading of the commodity.

This has invariably affected the supply of petrol to the Kaduna metropolis and other Northern states with the attendant hardship as motorists queued to get the product from the few filling stations that had fuel.

It was also gathered that while some shut their gates to customers, others willing to dispense the product were besieged by motorists desperate to fill their tanks at any price.
Meanwhile, PENGASSAN continues the strike as its discussion with government ended yesterday in a deadlock. The parties failed to reach an agreement over contending issues that led to the strike.
However, the meeting was rescheduled to continue today at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the President of PENGASSAN, Olabode Johnson, it was shifted to allow both parties time to further fine tune grey areas.
He said:

“We did not adjourn the meeting because the meeting was deadlocked, we had to push it forward to tomorrow because we wanted to fine-tune the areas of discussion. The issues we discussed included the need to curb the anti-labour practices in the sector and the payment of cash calls and the way forward for the industry.

“We also discussed the rehabilitation of the roads that lead to the Warri refinery as well as that of Mosimi. We also deliberated on the Petroleum industry Bill (PIB) and the need for government to move quickly to ensure its passage.”

The union said that members of its National Executive Council (NEC) are expected in Abuja today to deliberate on the outcome of the meeting.
Johnson further stated that letters had been sent to members inviting them to a meeting in Abuja today to deliberate on the outcome of the parley with government.

“The NEC will meet after the meeting with the federal government team to examine the outcome of the meeting and then take a decision on the on-going strike,” he said.

The dialogue which held at the NNPC headquarters had in attendance the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, and leaders of PENGASSAN and NUPENG.