(Ecofin Agency) - The Federal Government of Nigeria has been given a 21-day ultimatum by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to put an end to the ongoing mass lay off of oil workers by foreign oil firms operating in the country.

According to the union, international oil companies in Nigeria have sacked an estimated 3,000 workers due to the current economic recession in the country. “The government should call the multinationals to order. They are sacking and closing shop. So we want government to act. That’s why we have given a 21-day ultimatum. We believe government would act. If they don’t, when we get to the bridge that is at the expiration of the ultimatum we will cross it. I don’t want to use the word ‘strike’ now,” Igwe Achese, president of the NUPENG, said.

Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Pan Ocean and Saipem and Hercules oil and gas limited were amongst the International oil companies dismissing oil workers, Premium Times reports.

“More than 3,000 of our members are affected. Chevron alone is about 1,500; Mobil is about 1,000; the entire workers of Hercules Oil & Gas are being asked to go home; Pan Ocean have since closed shop and are gone. Industry-wide everybody are being asked to go. We are now asking ourselves, where are we heading to with the industry? What is happening in Nigeria cannot be compared to what is happening in other African countries. We want government to wake up and address some of these issues,” Achese added.

Nigeria’s oil industry has been affected by low crude prices and a series of attacks by militant in the Niger Delta region. More than a few foreign companies have withdrawn staff from the southern region or cut back on activities, due to the violence.

The OPEC member’s oil production has increased to 1.9 million barrels a day, less than the 2.2 million bpd at the beginning of this year and better than the 1 million bpd recorded a few months ago as a result of attacks.

Anita Fatunji