The legislative body has ordered the firms to delay the mass sackings until it says it determines certain facts which will help decide the proper course of action.
The directive was issued following a meeting between the oil companies and House Committee on Petroleum chaired by Hon Cairo Ojuogbor.
According to Ojuogbor, “[I have] told [the oil firms] to supply [my] Committee with the nominal role of their companies with specifications on the number of casual workers and those on full employment between last year and this year.”
Seven oil companies were invited for the discussion but only six attended, with Pan Ocean Oil Co abstaining.
The workers were represented by The Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union.
