Babatunji Wusu –
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) decided to halt operations at the NCDMB headquarters, known as the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, upsetting the industrial harmony of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
To keep employees from entering the building, two canopies were erected at the entrance and exit gates.
As a result, some employees who had already started working again were unable to enter the building and were forced to go home, while other employees had to wait in their cars.
Groups of PENGASSAN members were seen talking about the most recent development. They were wearing red T-shirts with PENGASSAN and NCDMB inscriptions on them.
A senior military official and his entourage were initially turned away from the premises, but after parking their vehicle outside, they were later granted entry.
According to investigations, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary, recently underwent a redeployment and posting, which is what set off this industrial action.
Recall that Ogbe announced the promotion and redistribution of six employees, including Ifeanyi Ukoha, in an internal memo on March 4, 2024.
Ukoha was promoted to the position of Acting Director of Finance and Personnel Management from his prior capacity as General Manager of Accounts and Finance.
Allegations have been made that Ukoha was improperly promoted.
According to sources cited by the SUN, he was over 50 when his appointment was regularized, which is against current Civil Service regulations. Mr. Isaac Yalla was the former occupant of this role.
Due process violations have raised doubts about the appointments of Mr. Ukoha as well as other people. Mr. Mofe Megbele, Gloria Onajero Osiebe, Mildred Eskor-Brown, Obinna Ofili, and Chidinma Adiele are some of these people.
The Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Act of 2010 is allegedly violated by Ogbe’s activities, which is the basis for PENGASSAN’s industrial action.
The Committee on Nigerian Content Development of the House of Representatives is now looking into a number of purportedly fraudulent contracts and schemes involving senior board members.
A portion of these dubious transactions, which come to a total of $300 million, have to do with operational and financial irregularities pertaining to loan financing, asset purchase loans, and different investment schemes and inactive equity funding.
