New fuel scarcity: TOTAL is holding Nigerians to ransom – SSS

 

The State Security Services (SSS) has blamed the ongoing nationwide strike embarked upon by members of PENGASSAN on oil giant, TOTAL Nig. Plc., saying that the company reneged on an agreement with the union to recall a woman that was wrongfully sacked.

SSS spokesperson, Ms Marilyn Ogar, while addressing the media in Abuja, urged Nigerians associated with the TOTAL management to compel it to end the suffering they had imposed on Nigerians by keeping their side of the said agreement.

Below are details of what led to the strike:

“The issue is the ongoing strike by NUPENG and PENGASSAN which is biting hard on all Nigerians. We want to state that in November, 2014, PENGASSAN had written the Service to make a formal complaint about the transfer of Elo Victor Ogbonda to Lagos from Port Harcourt by TOTAL after she was elected as a zonal executive of the union.

“Consequently, this Service summoned the managing director of TOTAL, Elizabeth Proust, on November 5, 2014, to resolve the dispute. It was agreed that Ogbonda would be re-instated, posted back to Port Harcourt and granted leave of absence for the period she would serve as an executive of PENGASSAN.”

Ms Ogar said that PENGASSAN later informed the DSS that TOTAL had reneged on its promise to recall Ogbonda.

“Consequently, this Service contacted TOTAL and was informed that the company will not go back on its sack order. All entreaties to the company failed, thus culminating in the current strike and the attendant fuel scarcity,” she added.