PENGASSAN members reject suspension of branch excos, question CRS dues

Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, in Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC E&P Limited, NEPL, have rejected the suspension of its branch executives by the national leadership of the union.

The National Leadership of the union had handed a three-year suspension to the Branch Chairman, Comrade Jimmy Ejiro Dafe and other members of the exco over their alleged refusal to allow the imposition of compulsory Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, deductions on the members’ monthly salaries. 

However, the NEPL branch congress in a statement, Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, said the suspension of Dafe, who is also a National Executive Council, NEC, member, is unlawful and a strike at the heart of the union’s democracy.

The statement was jointly signed by the NEPL PENGASSAN Branch Congress Committee, Comrade David Otiede, Comrade Olawunmi Oduyemi, and others.

The branch alleged that Dafe was victimized for conveying the members’ rejection of a proposed plan to impose compulsory Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, deductions on their monthly salaries, adding that over 70% of its members had already rejected the levy.

It read in part: “We are shocked by the national leadership’s silence after our seven-day ultimatum and a final 48-hour notice. This is a clear breach of natural justice and the Trade Unions Act.”

The committee in the statement bemoaned the proposed Special National Delegates Conference, SNDC, which they claim is a “backdoor” attempt to forcefully embed these CSR deductions and increase check-off dues into the union’s constitution without a proper mandate from members.

It warned that the crisis could threaten industrial harmony in a critical sector, adding that the NEPL branch of the union is a major player in the industry, with over 600 members producing more than 350,000 barrels of oil per day for the federation. It demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Comrade Dafe and a total halt to any unconstitutional financial obligations.

The statement read “our union belongs to the members, not to a few individuals. We will not stand by while democratic structures are weakened and collective resources are put at risk. We are prepared to begin sustained public advocacy to protect our rights.”