The immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator. Chris Ngige has expressed utter shock over the passing on of the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Johnson.
A statement by the Special Assistant, Media to the former Minister, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, said Senator Ngige who was very sad over the news, described Comrade Johnson as a forthright Labour leader who understood the intricacies of negotiations and went for what was possible, adding that his death came at time his comrade colleagues, as well as employers and government, would need his immense wealth of experience to navigate the various upcoming negotiations in the oil industry and public service.
According to him, “Serving as the Vice President of the TUC, his contributions would be missed on the vexed issue of the new National Minimum wage and the consequential adjustments upstairs.”
“I remember with nostalgia that he was one of the Labour leaders that visited me in solidarity and sympathy when a segment of Labour invaded my private home in Asokoro some few weeks ago under the guise of ill informed picketing. ”
He prayed to God to bless his soul and grant him eternal rest.
