FeaturedHighlightTrending Story

Sack of 39 oil workers: NUPENG, Valiant resolve months-long industrial crisis

267

 

The several months of industrial faceoff between the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and VALIANT Energy Services West Africa Ltd, an indigenous offshore drilling company, has been resolved, reports PerSecondnews.

VALIANT had in 2020 laid off 39 oil workers following the global downturn in the oil industry and series of lockdown occasioned by Coronavirus pandemic.

It was gathered that after series of deliberations with NUPENG, an agreement was reached in October 2020 between Valiant and NUPENG over the payment of terminal benefits to the workers.

The resolution of the industrial crisis was confirmed by a communique signed and made available by the Commercial Manager of VALIANT, Mr Yele Fafowora.

It said Valiant had met all obligations of the agreement and paid in full all outstanding severance benefits due to the NUPENG members.

In spite of this, NUPENG at the time, still expressed dissatisfaction with VALIANT on matters outside the provisions of the agreement, which had been fully met by VALIANT.

Rather than acknowledge the resolution of all matters with the payment of all outstanding monies, the impasse between them lingered.

However, a virtual reconciliation meeting brokered by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) was held on January 19, 2021 where all the grievances were heard by all parties and were amicably resolved.

“NUPENG further acknowledged receipt, in full, of all outstanding severance benefits from VALIANT due to its members, the disengaged workers.

“The management of VALIANT and NUPENG both agreed that the whole matter was regrettable but there was a collective resolve to work together in peace and harmony,” the communique states.

Commenting on the development, Mr Williams Akporeha, representing NUPENG, said dialogue remained the best option to dispute resolution and expressed the hope of a better and smoother working relationship between the labour and VALIANT in the future.

VALIANT, on its part, restated its unflinching commitment to the welfare of its workforce.

“VALIANT has the reputation of a responsible corporate entity that has held the welfare of its staff in high regard, always performing its statutory staff obligations in a timely manner.

“The relationship had always been cordial until this recent challenge. These disengaged members of staff are some of the best hands across the industry but the incident happened in response to the pandemic. We can’t fault anybody for that.

“Our work environment and culture at VALIANT have always been great, and I’m sure, if given the opportunity again, every laid off staff would love to re-join the company,” it added.

Witnesses to the reconciliatory meeting were Akporeha and Fafowora, while Mrs Joyce Odafe-Atebe, representing DPR, also signed the communique.

VALIANT provides services to International Oil Companies (IOC), drilling wells in various water depths across multiple energy hubs.

Over the last three years, the company has successfully drilled 16 offshore wells for some of the largest IOC’s with a 100% Nigerian crew.

Valiant continues is a strong advocate for local content in the Oil and Gas Industry by giving opportunities to capable Nigerians and organising training programs to broaden the skills and competencies of the local workforce.

VALIANT is a 100 percent Nigerian owned multi-oil services platform established in 2013. Behind it is a Nigerian management team with more than 25 years of expertise in oil and gas operations in Nigeria, the Gulf of Guinea and the Mauritania-Senegal-Gambia-Bissau-Conarky (MSGBC) Basin.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

NNPC Ltd. Advocates Collaboration, Transparency in Global Energy Decarbonization

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has called for increased...

VP Shettima Unveils Community-Driven Strategy to Tackle Nigeria’s Nutrition Challenges

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to addressing its growing...

Super Falcons to Face France in November Friendly

The Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will face France in...

Just in: NAPPS offers released #Endbadgovernance minors scholarships

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has announced its...

Just in: Tinubu Decorates Acting Chief of Army Staff Oluyede as Lieutenant General

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday decorated the acting Chief of Army Staff,...

Just in: For umpteenth time, national power grid collapses

Nigeria’s national power grid experienced another collapse on Tuesday, losing power generation...

CONUA to FG: Settle out withheld salaries, allowances, third-party deductions

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the federal government...

Tinubu’s N200bln intervention fund seeks to eradicate poverty in Nigeria – Gov. Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said that President Bola Tinubu...

Guardiola admits Manchester City’s struggle amid injury crisis

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that the club will struggle...

Pres.Tinubu Unveils Ambitious Plan to Revamp Nigeria’s Dilapidated Stadiums

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has outlined...

Just in: 63-year-old Ekiti Chief Judge, Adeyeye, dies

Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, has passed away....

Equatorial Guinea govt introduces CCTV in offices amid sextape scandal

Following sextape scandals, Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, Teddy Nguema, has announced plans...

Election Day Showdown: Harris and Trump Hold Duelling Rallies as Polls Reach Dead Heat

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rival rallies on Monday, the final...

$26bln African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project Gains Momentum

The federal government, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African...

N1.3trn fraud: EFCC arrests, grills ex-Delta Gov. Okowa

A former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has been apprehended by the...

Equatorial Guinea government official embroiled in sextape scandal

Mr. Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)...

CAF ruling against Libya: Nigerian govt. promises to protect its citizens in Libya

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to...

Polaris Bank wins “Best Mobile App” award at Digital Jurist Awards 2024

For its commitment to digital innovation and excellence, Polaris Bank has again...

Updated: After six years of injustice, Nigeria’s ex-Chief Justice, Onnoghen, finally gets justice

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, overturned the conviction of...

Flood sacks 4 Anambra council areas as Soludo activates 27 IDP camps

By Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka Floods have devastated four local government areas in...