We will resolve oil workers' issues – Petroleum minister

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe kachikwu, has assured that all issues raised by oil workers’ unions would be addressed to ensure sanity in the industry.

Kachikwu gave the assurance while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

The unions are Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

"We have listened to all their items of concerns and we will address them; we notice that anytime there is strike, it sets us back for two weeks.

"We have scheduled for a meeting on July 11, so we will tackle some of these issues,’’ Kachikwu said.

According to him, some of the issues border on security of work for their members and the fate of the some of the members that were laid off.

He assured that the meeting would handle all issues, and expressed hope that it would end well in the interest of the nation.

NAN reports that PENGASSAN had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike on Thursday over various workers’ welfare issues, including alleged mass sacking of its members by some oil and gas companies.