The meeting, which lasted13 hours, was called at the instance of the supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who led the government team.
It had the leadership of oil workers under the auspices of NUPENG and PENGASSAN and other relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas industry in attendance.
The meeting, held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, started at 5 pm on Thursday evening and ended about 6 am Friday morning after all parties had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)..
The end of the strike now holds a promise of Christmas without tears for motorists who had started feeling the pinch of fuel scarcity amidst thriving black market racketeering of the product.
On the issue of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the meeting noted the benefits associated with the Bill but regretted the delay in its passage by the National Assembly.
It was, therefore agreed that the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NUPENG and PENGASSAN should meet on the issue to decide on the best productive line of action.
The meeting noted that the guidelines on casualisation, contract staffing and outsourcing are still subsisting and the trade unions were advised to submit the names of companies defaulting in relation to the guidelines.
Besides, it was noted that the guidelines had been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for gazetting as Regulations; while the need to update the Guidelines in view of the changing world of work was also identified by the meeting.
On the issue of sustenance of National Minimum Wage, the meeting stated that it was a national matter to be handled by the two federations of trade Unions, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The unions expressed concern on the matter of kidnapping and pointed out its negative consequences on the industry and country.
However, the meeting noted that the issue of security challenges was global and that the Federal Government of Nigeria was committed to protecting its citizens.
On the issue of bad roads, the unions stated that the worst of them was the Eleme-Onne leading to Port Harcourt refinery and alternate roads to WRPC as well as PPMC Depots in Warri.
The meeting was informed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources that FERMA and Ministry of Works had been informed and a palliative work was requested.
However, due to the very bad state of the roads, he stated that contracts had been awarded for their total rehabilitation.
The trade unions also demanded for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the refineries and regular crude oil supply.
They kicked against the sale of refineries without due consultations with the trade unions but the issue was stepped down as no comment could be authoritatively made at the meeting on the state of the refineries.
The meeting also resolved the issue of victimisation of NUPENG and PENGASSAN executives, non promotion and unionisation in the industry.
"In view of the foregoing understanding, it was agreed that no trade union official/member shall be victimised for his/her participation in the strike and NUPENG & PENGASSAN suspend the ongoing strike in the industry," the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed after the meeting said.
The MOU was signed by the President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, the President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Comd. F. O. Johnson, General Secretaries of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, Comd. Isaac Aberare and Bayo Olowoshile respectively.
Other signatories to the MOU are: Executive General Manager Human Resources (HR), Total E&P, Paul Odekina, Executive Director HR & Corporate Affairs, Total E &P, Chidi Momah, Mobil Oil representative, Emo Udobong – Ntia, NAOC representative Chukwudi Illoh and the General Manager, Human Resources NNPC, Adekemi Akitoye.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Dr. Jamila Shu'ara and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Dr. Clement Illoh signed on behalf of the government.
Source: ThisDay
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