By Nanzing Tao
[T]he Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has inaugurated a 21-member tripartite committee to resolve labour issues in the oil and gas sector in order to nurture sustainable employment relationship devoid of strives and rancour.
Inaugurating the committee in his office in Abuja, Ngige said job cut is not the solution to the present challenges arising from the global dwindling in oil revenue.
“We are all in agreement that the oil and gas sector is currently facing challenges, the Federal Government is mindful of the concerns of both the employers and the employees, and is determined to nurture viable employment relationship devoid of strives. Hence the need to employ social dialogue mechanism to proffer solution to challenges confronting the sector,” he said.
The committee is chaired by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi, and is charged with the responsibility of reviewing existing guidelines on labour administration issues such as contract staffing and outsourcing.
The committee is also mandated to upgrade the guidelines to a ministerial regulation as provided by Section 88 (1)(e) and (g) of the Labour Act, CAP L1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.
The committee which has eight weeks to conclude its assignment is also to consider modalities for achieving retention of jobs in view of current challenges facing the oil and gas sector as well as look into other important concerns to the sustenance and promotion of industrial peace in the sector
Members of the committee are drawn from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Interior, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
Others are the Nigeria Immigration Services, Oil Producing Trade Sector, Labour Contractor in the Oil and Gas Sector, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
In his response, chairman of the committee, Mr. James Ocholi assured that the committee would do its best to ensure sustainable industrial peace and harmony in the oil and gas sector.
