The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NUPENG

  • NUPENG cautions on sack in Chevron, Shell

    NUPENG cautions on sack in Chevron, Shell

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is worried over the purported sack threat by Chevron and Shell that will affect about 18,500 workers globally.

    NUPENG, in a statement, signed by its National President, Comrade Igwe Achese, said it is a sack too many. He described the sack threat, adduced to dwindling oil prices, as alarming.

    He called on the Federal Government to halt the threat of loss of jobs in Nigeria by multinational companies. He wondered why Chevron and Shell should sack workers when they have fully divested from on-shore oil fields.

    The unions added that it would be morally unjustified for Chevron and Shell to retrench oil workers in Nigeria, as they are carting away profits made from deep oil shores and joint venture gas projects.

    NUPENG, therefore, condemned in its entirety the impending sack, noting that it would not work with the efforts of the Buhari administration to generate employment instead of job losses.

    NUPENG added that it would amount to derailing the efforts of the government to provide jobs for Nigerians. It stated that the oil giants should cut cost by employing Nigerians in positions where expatriates hold sway and are paid 10  times what Nigerians are paid.

    The union warned that it might be forced to embark on industrial action if the Federal Government, through the regulatory agency, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) fails to stop Chevron and Shell from sending oil workers in Nigeria to the unemployment market.

  • ‘Govt can’t be blackmailed on NUPENG’s N224m claim’

    ‘Govt can’t be blackmailed on NUPENG’s N224m claim’

    The Lagos State government yesterday said it would not succumb to the attempt by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to blackmail it into paying a questionable N224 million debt.

    Reacting to a purported protest carried out by members of the association, the government said though it was not against peaceful protest by aggrieved citizens but it would not be stampeded into taking any action without strictly following due process and rule of law.

    NUPENG had alleged that the N224 million was for payment for the supply of diesel and kerosene to the government for execution of direct labour projects in Ojodu between October 2014 and May 2015.

    NUPENG Southwest Chairman Tokunbo Korodo had threatened that members would embark on the protest with over 1, 000 tankers and that Lagosians would experience scarcity of fuel if the request was not acceded to.

    But in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the government recalled that the said transaction took place between an independent marketer and the State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) before the present administration assumed office.

    Ayorinde said the company wrote the government about the transaction and the government replied that it wanted to investigate the claim.

    According to Ayorinde, “The investigation proved that the claim by the company was fraudulent but while investigation was still ongoing, the company went to NUPENG, and the association agreed to demonstrate on behalf of the company.

    “Our position is that the Lagos State government cannot be stampeded or blackmailed into making payments that have not been verified for which investigation is still ongoing.

    “While the government is not against peaceful protest by aggrieved citizens, we would like to urge Lagosians to go about their businesses peacefully.

    “No amount of blackmail will stop the government from strictly following due process and rule of law,” Ayorinde said.

    The government also urged the national leadership of NUPENG to prevail on its Lagos State chapter to stop using the union to pursue personal gains.

    The commissioner added that the Lagos State government never entered into any transaction with NUPENG but a private company, and as such it was strange that the union was now being used to blackmail the government.

  • Oil glut: NUPENG to fight redundancies

    Oil glut: NUPENG to fight redundancies

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vowed to resist any attempt by oil and gas operators to sack its workers.

    NUPENG Secretary-General, Joseph Ogbebor, said several thousands of workers have suffered unduly in the hands of operators in the downstream and upstream segments of the industry since the oil glut started last year, arguing that the issue would aggravate the problems in the sector, if not stopped.

    He said the body and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) would ensure that oil and gas operators follow due process before they lay off their workers, adding that this is only way to check redundancy in the sector.

    He said oil glut was taking its toll on the industry because firms are winding down their operations.

    “We are studying the situation in the industry, with regard to the fall in price of crude oil, and we would take action on the issue soon. At the appropriate time, we would invoke section 20 of the Labour Act on oil firms operating in the country. Through this, we would ensure that the companies engage us (NUPENG) and the DPR in mutual discussions before they sack their workers.”

    According to him, why should downsizing remain the only visible option for the oil firms, adding that the issue needs to be sorted out between DPR and NUPENG on one hand, and the companies that want to retrench, on the other hand, before such activities are carried out?

    He said redundancies in the petroleum sector should be condemned by stakeholders, arguing that the idea would kill the industry fast if not checked.

    On fuel supply, Ogbebor said his members had been performing their roles of distributing fuel to designated outlets, in line with the directives of marketers.

    He said if Oando engages tanker drivers by mandating them to supply its outlets across the country, such drivers have no choice than to keep to the instructions of their employer.

    He said the role of tanker drivers was to lift fuel and take it to the approved outlets, and not to bother themselves with the issue of compliance with the new price regime of N86.50 per litre of petrol.

    He also said diversion of petroleum products is a criminal offence, adding that his association opposes it.

  • NUPENG calls for repair of federal roads

    NUPENG calls for repair of federal roads

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate federal roads to ease transportation of petroleum products.

    Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, NUPENG’s Southwest Chairman made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Korodo said the rehabilitation would reduce unnecessary delay of tanker drivers, who lose much time before getting products to their final destinations.

    “Most federal roads have become death traps and this is causing accidents to our tanker drivers;

    Oshodi-Apapa Express Road, Okene-Lokoja and Owo-Akoko roads are in deplorable conditions.

    “Government should ensure that these roads are repaired this year to ease movement of vehicles plying the roads,” he said.

    The chairman urged the Federal Government to  protect NNPC pipelines from vandals.

    He said this would return normal loading activities at abandoned NNPC depots nationwide.

    Korodo also sought a reduction in contract staffing and job security for workers in the oil and gas industry.

    The chairman said the union would help the government in making Nigerians smile.

    He urged the Department of Petroleum Resources to withdraw or cancel the licence of independent marketers frustrating its efforts.

  • Fuel scarcity: Tanker drivers to partner govt

    Fuel scarcity: Tanker drivers to partner govt

    The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has pledged to work with the Federal Government to end the ongoing fuel scarcity across the country.

    Its National Chairman, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, said the union will work round the clock to ensure the delivery of petroleum products to filling stations across the country through out the festive period and beyond.

    He expressed the readiness of PTD to support government at reducing the problem of fuel scarcity to the barest minimum through the engagement of tanker drivers to work round the clock, without weekends and holidays, lifting and discharging products around the country, until queues disappear from filling stations.

    He praised the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu for the wonderful job he is doing to address the fuel scarcity. He assured that PTD will continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to make Nigeria a better society for all.

    Comrade Oladiti urged  caution among  Tanker Drivers, particularly during the season, saying, much as more is expected from his members at this season, they should be safety conscious, given high vehicular traffic on the high way. He advised all road users to obey traffic rules and made road safety their watchword.

    He ask stakeholders in  road transportation sector of the economy as well as oil marketers and Allied industries to join hands and support the Federal Government current efforts at cost effective supply and distribution of fuel products at lower price across the country, such that Resources are channeled to other meaningful and welfare pogrammes.

  • NUPENG: Petrol ‘ll soon be available

    NUPENG: Petrol ‘ll soon be available

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers yesterday said petrol would soon be available in filling stations across the country.

    The Southwest Chairman of the union, Mr Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos there had been improvement on loading of petroleum at the depots in Lagos.

    He observed that Nigerians would appreciate the present regime if it could reduce the price of petroleum.

    NAN reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, had earlier said that a price modulation in petrol would begin by January 2016.

    Kachikwu disclosed this during his inspection of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) on Christmas day.

    The NUPENG chairman said that the government meant well for all and sundry, in spite of the few greedy that worked to frustrate genuine intentions.

  • Petrol will soon be available – NUPENG

    Petrol will soon be available – NUPENG

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) Workers on Monday says that petrol would soon be available in filling stations across the country.

    Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos there had been improvement on loading of petroleum at the depots in Lagos.

    He observed that Nigerians would appreciate the present regime if it could reduce the price of petroleum.

    NAN reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had earlier said that a price modulation in petrol would begin by January 2016.

    Kachikwu disclosed this during his inspection of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) on Christmas day.

    The NUPENG chairman said that the government meant well for all and sundry, in spite of the few greedy that worked to frustrate genuine intentions.

     

  • NUPENG to protest sack in NNPC

    NUPENG to protest sack in NNPC

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vowed to resist the move by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to sack its 1,100 workers.

    Its President, Comrade Igwe Achese, who spoke  in Lagos, said it was embarrassing that the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu would sack workers at the corporation without consulting NUPENG and PENGASSAN – the two unions in the oil and gas sector.

    He said: “The unbundling of the firm into four companies and intended restructuring should not have anything to do with sack of workers. We call on the management of the NNPC to tread with caution and jettison its plans on the impending sack of 1,100 workers of the corporation.”

    He said the union cannot fold its arms and watch its members who had served for years to be thrown into the employment market because of the inconsistent policies of the government.

    He advised the Federal Government to convene a major stakeholders’meeting to x-ray the challenges facing the sector and proffer solutions, rather than chasing the shadows.

    Achese said the policy of the NNPC to engage casual workers is illegal and that it should be condemned.

    The impending retrenchment would be counter productive, he said, adding that its members would protest the action if the two oil unions were not consulted.

  • NUPENG accuses security operatives, others of aggravating fuel sacrcity

    NUPENG accuses security operatives, others of aggravating fuel sacrcity

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have accused security operatives manning filling stations across the country of aggravating fuel scarcity.

    It said security operatives who should have been deployed to fight Boko Haram, kidnappers and armed robbery that are making life unbearable for Nigerians are now working at filling stations, causing confusion there.

    Its National President, Comrade Igwe Achese who spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NUPENG,  urged President Muhammadu Buhari  to redeploy the security operatives fight terrorism and other crimes ravaging the country.

    Achese also said the security challenges on oil pipelines and on the movement of fuel from one state to another are equally contributing to the fuel scarcity.

    He blamed the refusal of the Federal Government to carry out Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the nation’s refineries for the past 16 years for contributing to the fuel scarcity.

    Achese who read the communiqué issued by the union said: “It is a shame that we cannot do TAM which takes only a year period on our refineries within the last 16 years.”

    He also lamneted that fuel subsidy was being fraudulently managed, adding that this is a contributory factor to the scarcity.He pointed out that NUPENG would resist subsidy removal if it is done without TAM on the refineries.

    Carrying out TAM before the subsidy removal he said would “enable the refineries to produce optimally and cushion the hardship such policy implementation will undoubtedly have on hapless Nigerians.”

    Achese did not spare the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for contributing to the fuel scarcity saying about 80 percent of petroleum products are being imported by the company with its attendant bureaucracy adding that “the Treasury Single Account is not in the interest of Nigerians.”

    Continuing, Achese lamented that the exchange rate of dollar to naira is still high adding that “the political will we handed over to this government is not to afflict Nigerians with hardship.”

    In the 10-point communique, Achese said the Federal Government should flood the market with petroleum products to arrest the current  fuel scarcity in the country especially at this festive period.

  • NUPENG seeks rejuvenation of economy

    NUPENG seeks rejuvenation of economy

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has urged President Muhammadi Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to hit the ground running to put the economy on track.

    The union, in a statement, said it believes that time had been wasted in constituting the cabinet to implement the programmes of the government.

    NUPENG appealed to FEC to meet regularly to proffer solutions to the needs of the citizens.

    The workers said expectations were high, adding that the ministers should put in place policies to arrest incessant fuel shortages crippling the economy.

    NUPENG said since Mr. President is in charge of the Petroleum Ministry, he and his team must put in place short- and long-term measures to end the sufferings of the masses so they can get petroleum products without wasting man-hours at the filling stations.

    NUPENG also urged the Federal Government to address casualisation and outsourcing of workers to contractors, which is modern-day slavery.

    NUPENG added that as the over-seer of the Petroleum Ministry, Mr. President must address the issues of non-payment of cash-calls on Joint Ventures and also represent the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after a stakeholders’ meeting to iron out the grey areas.

    The group said the new FEC must halt divestments in the oil & gas industry and tackle the Turn-Around-Maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s four refineries in Port Harcourt 1, 2 Kaduna and Warri.

    NUPENG stated that it will not hesitate to resist any further retrenchment and down-sizing in the oil and gas sector and therefore called for an enabling environment that will create a level-playing field for investors to operate.

    The Union also wants the problems of power and bad roads addressed while the diversification of the economy must be on the front burners of the government.