Oil workers in Nigeria go on strike

LAGOS, Nigeria

Nigerian oil workers went on strike Friday to press the government in addressing issues affecting their industry, according to a spokesman of a prominent local workers' union.

Emmanuel Ojugbana, spokesman for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, also known as PENGASSAN, told Anadolu Agency its members in offices and downstream sector would not resume work following the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The Nigerian government is yet to react to the latest union action. Office of the secretary to the government did not respond to Anadolu Agency's request for comment.

The union had last week issued a strike notice to the government after both sides failed to resolve issues, including demands for government funds to support workers’ welfare among others.

“As we are speaking now, some of our members that are in the offshore have been withdrawn, while others who are on critical equipment have commenced gradual shutting down of such equipment before their final disengagement,” the union said in a statement Thursday night.