DSS blames Total for fuel scarcity

The Directorate of State Services (DSS) has told Nigerians to hold Total Exporation and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) responsible for the current fuel scarcity ravaging the entire country, insisting that the failure of the oil company to obey the gentleman agreement reached over rescinding the transfer of its unionist staff, Elo Victor Ogbonda, was responsible for the ongoing strike.

Speaking during a press briefing at their headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the of State Services, Marilyn Ogar,  lamented that the oil company had rebuffed all entreaties to rescind the decision on Ogbonda’s transfer.

According to her; “We want to put it on record that Total should be held responsible for the ongoing strike by NUPENG and PENGASSAN which is biting hard on all Nigerians. We want to state that in November, 2014, PENGASSAN had written to the Service to make a formal complaint about the transfer of Elo Victor Ogbonda to Lagos, from Port Harcourt by Total, after she was elected as a Zonal executive of the Union.”

“The transfer was seen as a design by Total to frustrate her from performing her functions at the Union’s Secretariat in Port Harcourt. Consequently, this Service summoned the Managing Director of TEPNG, Elizabeth Proust, on November 5, 2014, to resolve the dispute. It was agreed that Ogbonda would be re-instated, posted back to Port Harcourt and granted leave of absence for the period she would serve as an executive of PENGASSAN.

“However, PENGASSAN was later to inform this Service that Total had reneged on its promise to recall Ogbonda and that she remains sacked. Consequently, this Service contacted Total and was informed that the company will not go back on its sack order. All entreaties to the company failed, thus culminating in the current strike and the attendant scarcity.

“We sympathize with Nigerians for the hardship they are facing and want to appeal to the Public that efforts are on to resolve the crisis. As we speak, the Service is currently meeting with the Management of Total with a view to addressing the contending issues.

-Sun