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ABUJA, Aug 2 (Reuters) - One of Nigeria's main oil and gas
trade unions said on Friday it had suspended planned industrial
action related to a staffing dispute with U.S. oil major Chevron
CVX.N .
OPEC member Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and
crude sales bring about 90% of foreign exchange, but the
moribund state of refineries means it imports most refined fuel.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG) had accused U.S. oil major Chevron of sacking hundreds
of Nigerian workers and altering contracts, both of which it
said were in violation of an agreement.
On Thursday, the union issued a statement in which it said
it was prepared to take industrial action if certain demands,
including the return to work of all "NUPENG executives", were
not met by Chevron within 7 days. But, in its new statement, NUPENG said it had suspended the
planned industrial action following talks brokered by the state
oil company that were held on Thursday and Friday.
"All our members are directed to step down the red alert
message ... as we assure all and sundry of normal supply and
distribution of petroleum products across the country," it said,
adding that talks were ongoing "to amicably resolve the matter".
Chevron did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.