A major Nigerian oil union said on Saturday it would launch a strike from Monday after talks aimed at resolving a dispute with domestic oil and gas companies reached a deadlock.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), whose members mainly work in the upstream oil industry, is clashing with the companies over the laying off of union members.
The strike could hit Nigeria`s oil production and dent exports, as they did in December last year during a PENGASSAN action against ExxonMobil.
TRENDING NOW
"PENGASSAN has commenced mobilisation for the strike," a spokeswoman for the union said.
The dispute arose after domestic oil and gas companies and marginal field operators laid off union members. Marginal fields refer to discoveries made by oil majors during exploration of larger acreage but which have been left for others to develop.
PENGASSAN has asked the government to force the management of those companies to recall their laid off workers. The union said the firms ordered "mass" lay offs but has not given figures.
Oil output from Nigeria, Africa`s largest crude exporter, has been volatile over the past two years due to militant attacks, pipeline theft and sabotage and industrial action.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
08:51 pm
Mcap of four of top 10 most-valued firms rises by Rs 65,671 crore
India's space economy set to reach USD 40 billion by 2040: Union Minister Jitendra Singh 
Germany's economy shrank, and it's facing a spending crisis that's spreading more gloom 
Japan's economy contracts as recession risks grow
China's 2023 growth target within reach - China bank governor