Protest rocks NUPRC over non-payment of staff entitlements

<p>Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in the early hours of Tuesday protested non-payment of Staff entitlements, among other issues.</p>, <p>The Union barricaded the entrance of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) head office in Abuja, protesting what they term ‘escalating critical concerns affecting staff welfare in the Commission.’</p>, <p>The protesting workers raised issues relating to pension non-remittance, non-conducive work environment, insufficient work tools, staff medicals, outstanding payments of 2023 upfront allowances, unpaid staff claims, unpaid staff on-call allowance, and non-payment of outsourced personnel.</p>, <p>But the Commission, in its response signed by the Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe said obligations relating to claims made by the union have been fulfilled, adding that efforts were already in place to achieve closure on the pending items.</p>, <p>According to the Commission, the protest came less than 24 hours after the management of the commission had, in response to PENGASSAN’s letter delivered on July 31, 2023, addressed all the issues raised concerning staff welfare.</p>, <p>” Responding same day (July 31) to the letter which the local PENGASSAN chairman and secretary signed, Mr. O. E. Anya and Dr M Malah, respectively, the Commission explained the stages at which all the stated issues have been addressed to date,” it said.</p>, <p>Contrary to claims, it explained that pension deductions from staff emoluments have not been remitted to the various PFAs in line with the Pension Reform Act 2014, the Commission had fully settled all pension deductions.</p>, <p>“Evidence was attached to the response for the Union’s attention and verification,” it added.</p>, <p>On the Union’s claims on the non-conducive work environment, it explained that an additional working space had been secured in Abuja, while relevant steps have been taken to fit the necessary facilities in the Port Harcourt and Lagos offices,