The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to suspend operations over the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly.
PENGASSAN’s President Mr Babatunde Ogun, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday,warned that if politicians cannot conduct themselves in a manner expected of them, the union would not hesitate to withdraw the services of oil workers to ensure their safety.
He said: “The state of fear that pervades Rivers is a threat to the lives and safety of oil and gas workers and the entire industry.”
It said the crisis was an indication that the government may not be able to guarantee security and protect the lives and property of the people.
It condemned the violence in the assembly on Tuesday, describing it as ‘a slap on Nigeria’s democracy and the Constitution.’
The statement said the crisis could lead to a breakdown of law and order that could affect not only the state, but other parts of the country if not nipped in the bud.
The violence, it said, showed that some politicians lacked respect for the Constitution and elementary democratic decorum.
“That is why we would not risk the lives of our members and may have to withdraw them until the situation is under control”, he said.
The statement said it was regrettable to note that those trying to subvert democracy never fought for it.
“Several people, especially labour leaders, died for our democracy to be achieved. Some of us were incarcerated during the struggle to attain this democracy.”
The statement urged all those involved in the crisis to take cognisance of its root causes and pursue peace by reconciling their differences.
A former member of the assembly, Mr. Chidi Amadi, yesterday described as hasty, the House of Representatives resolution on the matter.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Wednesday, urging the National Assembly to allow it take over the legislative functions of the Rivers assembly immediately.
Amadi, who represented Obio/Akpor constituency II on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers from 1991 to 1993, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the House of Representatives should have allowed a committee it set up to investigate the crisis first.
He said the lower chamber of the National Assembly should have monitored events in the Rivers assembly before passing the resolution.
”The events at the National Assembly, taking a cue from the first point of departure, the lower house, the House of Representatives, I want to say that the resolution of the House of Representatives was quite disappointing.
“Yes, the lower house of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, has every right to review the happenings in the Rivers State legislature.
“But, not to say that, at the first attempt to look into this issue, a resolution was reached to take over the affairs of the assembly.
“From all that happened, we were aware, we heard on the news – the former speaker of the assembly, Tonye Harry even affirmed that no one was removed and then asked the media to come the following morning that the assembly was going to sit.
“From other members of the assembly, we also heard that the business of the day, which was to pass the motion from the executive arm as per the budget modification was taken,“
Amadi said other members of the assembly assured that the business of the state legislative arm would go on.
He hailed the Senate for exercising restraint on the matter and advised the legislators in the state to calm down and not ignore the issue of governance.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/pengassan-threatens-strike-over-crisis-in-rivers-legislature/

You got this from the Nation? .

Opposition should get ready to make more noise from now till 2019.

Operation 'Let's save Amaechi'

Waiting for NLC, TUC, NUPENG, CAN et al to join the strike; and for ASUU to amend their demand to include the restoration of order at Rivers state.

KGB2008: You got this from the Nation? .

Opposition should get ready to make more noise from now till 2019.

I wrote it that the nation could be grounded by this feud. Very soon people might deviate from the present topic and demand for Jonathan's resignation. The revolution could start from a little thing.

shey una wan make things difficult for Nigerians now. Wetin concern una na? Concentrate on giving us the best from your corner. Leave them to strangle themselves to death. Power drunk Law makers and leaders.
Abeg top 10 things jor. I don try today

jobless people

hhhhhaaa laffin in swahilli!!!SO EVERY SMALL TIN DAT HAPPENS STRIKE GO FOLLOW??FUNNI COUNTRY WIT FUNI LEADERS

The Nation?

As the local saying goes "na small sh*t dey spoil nyash"
This minor incident can snowball into something beyond the plan or scope of both feuding parties.

Harod laswell define politics as "who gets what, when and how"
So don't worry people they are politicians they arnt permanent friends nor enemy just permanent interest. Soon they will be calm.


Leave politicians and think of how to change ur life for Good (hit like if u agree with my view)

They are all blinded by avarice and greed.

na everytin b strike. Mtchew lazy people

not again !!!

Shame on pdp shame on the rivers state shame shame shame to them all....

Its ok......
We are watching.....

IF NUPENG/PENGASSAN/ASUU/NUJ/NUT/ETC STRIKE ACTION IS THE EASIEST AND BEST WAY TO BRING MUCH NEEDED CHANGES, THEN NIGERIA STANDARD OF LIVING WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER, BUT NOT AT ALL. THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT PAY DEAF EAR AND LIP SERVICE TO ORGANISED LABOUR IS NOW CANVASSING THEIR SUPPORT TO SAVE FACE. PENGASSAN LEADERS ARE CORRUPT AND HAVE LOST THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS FORMED. IS PENGASSAN FOR THE MASSES OR FOR THE GOVERNMENT?

Shameless oil union, always holding the whole nation to ransom. Nupeng today.. Pengasson tomorrow
What's there biz with River politics

Must we always go on on strike over every thing? Why haven't PENGASSAN gone on strike over more serious issues like Boko-Haram killings, Police killiing of innocent civilians, Corruption in Government, epileptic power supply. etc

Pengasson should be aware that whenever they go on strike, it is the masses that suffers. This is not their fight, they should desist pls. If they want to be genuine, they should go on strike in support of ASUU.

Nigerians don't deserve this ill treatment.

They should stop boring us with their useless unionism. . . .

With the situation of things, is like Amaechi got strong external backing.

Egypt was not even as bad as dis bfore it snowballed into what it is today.
How can I be assuring d nation of oil revenue when my safety and d future of my kids yet unborn is being steadily suffocated in d political economy?

Pls let somebody tell me, wety concern agbero with overload? We need constructive criticism. Support and opinion. They should not burnt down the entire house because of a bush rat

The Labour unions should rise and save Amaechi and the entire Rivers state from this PDP-imposed siege on the state.
I live in PH. Amaechi doesn't deserve all these................

alaoeri: With the situation of things, is like Amaechi got strong external backing.

You really believe that PENGASSAN will go on strike because there was a fight in Rivers State House of Assembly? How many people went on strike while the whole fights that engulfed the House of Representatives lasted?

People make too much noise that at a point, they will begin to believe even their noise.

Politics everywhere!

Syenite: Must we always go on on strike over every thing? Why haven't PENGASSAN gone on strike over more serious issues like Boko-Haram killings, Polhice killiing of innocent civilians, Corruption in Government, epileptic power supply. etc

.

Help me ask dos currupt foools.wonder how much of rivers state funds has been negotiated for dat purpose. Uselesss clowns

alaoeri: With the situation of things, is like Amaechi got strong external backing.

My thought too!!!

IGBO MEN WAS SET ABLAZE IN LAGOS.IKOTUN,IGBO ARE POINT & KILL

Abagworo:

I wrote it that the nation could be grounded by this feud. Very soon people might deviate from the present topic and demand for Jonathan's resignation. The revolution could start from a little thing.

Guess it is jobless folks like you that will start the revolution and demand for Jonathan resignation. Apart from the fracas among government officials and the alleged break down of law and order, there's relative peace in Rivers, real stakeholders are going about there normal lawful business.

All the hue and cry about River State on fire is just a creation of a section of the media, I'm at Trans amadi layout touring some facilities presently and funny enough, nobody seem to care about the so-call crisis you people have been shouting from rooftop all day