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Tag: NUPENG

  • NUPENG inaugurates units in Oron, Ibeno

    The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has inaugurated her Marine Equipment and Oil Suppliers (MEOS) branch units in Oron and Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State.

    Prince Thomas is the chairman while Mr. Stephen Okparaeke is secretary respectively for Oron unit while Ibok Victor and Victor Edikpo  emerged Chairman and Secretary for Ibeno unit.

    In his welcome address, the MEOS Branch National Chairman, Best Ose, who established the Marine Equipment and Oil Suppliers (MEOS) Branch of NUPENG, said MEOS was created to harmonise operations for NUPENG members in the Marine sector so as to watch against pipeline vandalism, unholy theft of petroleum product, piracy, oil spillage and other illegalities in the territorial waters.

    He stressed the need for members to abide by the tenets of NUPENG byelaws and constitutional provision in order to fully benefit from the ingredients available in the union.

    Also speaking, the Senior Assistant Secretary, NUPENG, Lawrence Alagbara educated the newly inaugurated units on the workings of NUPENG stressing that, of the six branches of NUPENG, MEOS has the most fortunate prospect for survival.

    He explained that travelling around the world and frequent trainings were among the huge benefits of belonging to NUPENG.

  • NUPENG urges FG to fix refineries, address fuel scarcity

    NUPENG urges FG to fix refineries, address fuel scarcity

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have urged the Federal Government to fix the four refineries in the country in other to curb constant fuel scarcity.

    The union also urged the government to ensure the protection of pipelines while curbing illegal bunkering.

    National President of the union, Igwe Achese, who said this on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, on Monday, added that Nigeria would continue to experience scarcity of fuel because the distribution and marketing of the products have been mortgaged in the hands of few individuals.

    He said: “I have said clearly over some months that the scarcity we are experiencing today will continue because we have mortgaged the petroleum product distribution marketing system into private homes, individuals in the name of privatization.

    “What we need to do is one; put our refineries in other. And I ask myself how much that will cost us to carry out complete turnaround maintenance. Turnaround maintenance is between three to four months and you are aware that this turnaround maintenance has been an issue for the past 15 years. And every year we keep hearing we have spent so billion in turnaround maintenance and yet we are no there.

    “Two is to make sure that our pipelines are also been protected, very well secured and to make sure that petroleum products or crude oil are being haulage through these pipelines to the refineries.

    “And then we need to tackle illegal bunkering. Government should sit up in fighting illegal bunkering. I ask myself, ‘the vessels that are being used to carry or lift up this crude oil are they being charms that cannot be seen by the eyes? These are big vessels that are visible and can be seen.”

    Achese said that the Obasanjo administration introduced petroleum subsidy in 2006 as a measure to carry out turnaround maintenance on the refineries.

    He added that Nigeria now depended completely on the importation of petroleum products.

    Achese said: “Who introduced petroleum subsidy into the system and for what purposes? You and I know very well when subsidy was being introduced in 2006 he clearly stated the terms of why subsidy was being introduced. He said look let us see a turnaround of the refineries and for us to do a turnaround of the refineries let us a lot importation of fuel to come into this country as a stop gap measure not as a dependent processes.

    “Today it is a process we are depending on now. It was a stop gap measure and that stop gap measure today is no more a stop gap measure. We are now depending on importation of petroleum product completely. If you look at the current situation we are today, we are yet to be told the exact amount of money being paid as subsidy. Because there is subsidy in demurrage, we have subsidy in de- haulage.”

  • NUPENG calls for summit on oil theft

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called for a stakeholders summit comprising  ship owners, DAPPMAN, Police, Army, Navy, NNPC, DSS, DPR, Civil Defence Corps, NUPENG and PENGASSAN to fashion out a new strategy to end oil theft and pipelines vandalism.

    The President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese made this statement during a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, in Abuja. Comrade Achese said NUPENG as a major stakeholder was worried about the incessant vandalisation and oil theft which has led to huge loses to the nation’s economy. He promised to collaborate with the army to end the scourge.

    Comrade Achese also drew the attention of the Chief of Army Staff to the attitude of some soldiers who harass and disturb tanker drivers performing their Lawful duties in the haulage of petroleum products to various parts of the country.

    Lt.-Gen Buratai said the army was on top of Boko Haram situation. He added that he ordered the commander of the Military Police to check the harassment of tanker drivers and he was also going to meet with NIMASA on ways to check oil theft.

    The Chief of Army Staff advised NUPENG to always explore the use of dialogue instead of shutting down the nation whenever they had any grievances.

  • NUPENG, SON to flush out substandard products

    NUPENG, SON to flush out substandard products

    Fake lubricant and base oil producers have been put put on notice –  the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)  plans to join forces with National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Engine Lubricant Dealers Branch, to stop their trade.

    The two bodies have set up a working committee made up of 10 members (five each) to set out modalities  for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would set  the framework for  a planned task force that will drive the change within the next 90 days.

    Speaking at the event, which held at SON’s Lekki Office, Lagos the Director-General, Dr Joseph Odumodu said the move is a welcomed as it would enable a cleaner oil and gas sector, adding that there was need to sanitise the sector in the overall interest of Nigeria.

    Odumodu said  it was on the government interest in seeing that the oil and gas lubricant sub-sector is run in accordance with the laws of the land, hinting that collaboration with NUPENG is what SON needs to bring sanity and due process in that industry.

    “I want to assure you that SON will collaborate with you in this battle. Some people bring in base oil and try to  adulterate it. Nigeria cannot be a safe haven for such unscrupulous importers or blenders. We will flush them out with joint collaboration and ensure that genuine business flourish in the sector.

    He assured that  base oil,  which does not meet the quality that  suit our modern day automobiles/machinery in terms of the SAE ranges and API classifications, would be removed from the market.

    According to him,  it is important to  bring in other stakeholders and groups in the sector “so that we can eradicate substandard goods from oil and gas sector”.

    ”We shall sign an MOU by first setting up a working committee and a task force team  that will bring sanity to the sector with in 90 days,’’ he said.

    Reacting, Comrade Braimoh spoke against the damages caused by adulterated products to engines and machines and the attendant effect on the economy, expressing worries over complaints about  poor quality of imported lubricant brands to the detriment of locally produced ones.

    He said this mandated the need that SON and NUPENG should synergise to reduce the incidents of adulterated and substandard products to the barest minimum for the good of the public.

    Other top executives of SON at the meeting, include: Mr Bede Obayi, Director Enforcement, Engineer; Timothy Abner, Head Petroleum; Mr Ofalayo, Group Head Chemical Technology, Engineer Gabriel Abba, among others.

  • NUPENG demands full investigation on Lagos chopper crash

    The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has demanded for a full investigation into the Bristow helicopter air crash that killed four oil workers and two pilots.

    In a press statement signed the NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe Achese, the  Union wants a comprehensive investigation into the Chopper crash by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to avert further crashes; because it is one crash, too many, as the Bristow Helicopters Company had recorded three air crashes in eight years.

    “NUPENG is worried and concerned about these crashes by Bristow Helicopters which is a major carrier of oil workers and personnel from oil platforms on the high seas to the hinterland.

    “The union calls on the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), to commence full scale investigations immediately the black box is found and make its findings known.  It warns that the AIB findings should not be locked up in its drawers, like other air crashes probes.

    “It is sad to note that the cause of the last Dana air crash that killed about 200 air passengers report is yet to see the light of the day, three years after,” the union said.

    The union re-iterates its commitment to safety of oil workers at work in the platforms and in the medium of transportation to and fro the oil rigs.

    “We state that Choppers and other forms of water transportation of oil workers to the rigs in offshore  locations must be in good order to stop the untimely death of hardworking and innocent workers who toil day and night to produce the hydro-carbon that is the mainstay of our nation’s economy,” the statement said.

  • NUPENG appoints new acting general secretary

    NUPENG appoints new acting general secretary

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has appointed Comrade Joseph Ogbebor as Acting General Secretary of the Union with immediate effect.

    Comrade Joseph Ogbebor takes over from Comrade Isaac Aberare, the former General Secretary who recently retired from the union after 33 years of meritorious service.

    Comrade Joseph Ogbebor, before his appointment was the former Deputy General Secretary in-charge of Operations of the Union.  Comrade Ogbebor is a law graduate from the University of Benin, Edo State.

    He passed through the mills in NUPENG to rise to this present position, having served in various capacities and levels as Assistant General Secretary in Warri Zone, Senior Assistant General Secretary, and Head of zone, Port Harcourt/Warri Zones.

    He was later transferred to Lagos as Deputy General Secretary (Administration) and later Operations, before his new appointment as Acting General Secretary.

  • NUPENG may begin strike over unpaid benefits

    NUPENG may begin strike over unpaid benefits

    The Warri Zone of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has warned that its members may soon begin a strike, following the failure of Chevron Nigerian Limited (CNL) to settle outstanding severance entitlements of disengaged contract workers.

    Warri Zone’s NUPENG Chairman Cogent Ojobor spoke at a peaceful protest by disengaged contract workers at Chevron’s yard in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

    He said the union would take action against the oil firm’s alleged infringement, besides the protest.

    Ojobor said Chevron had admitted to owing the workers, adding that the company had not paid the backlog of entitlements.

    He said: “At various fora, Chevron has admitted owing the workers. But in the last two weeks to more than 12 months running, its commitment to pay the entitlements has repeatedly not been honoured. For now, it is a peaceful protest. But it may turn to a strike, if the lack of reasoning by Chevron pushes it to that limit.

    “When it gets to that, we will shut fuel supply. We will cut down supply of gas to power generating plants and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) may go down again. The economy will be affected and people would start saying NUPENG is at it again. This is no idle threat.”

    One of the affected workers, Patrick Gbetah, said Chevron failed to honour the terms in the contract it signed with the workers.

    He said: “Under the collective engagement bargaining with Chevron and its contractors, under which we work, we are entitled to end-of-contract bonus, redundancy and pension benefits, in case of disengagement.

    “For over 12 months, most of us have been disengaged, in the name of a transition – without these benefits being paid. Those made not to go back to work are also asking to access our pension funds over which several sums have been deducted from our salaries while we were engaged.”

    One of the spokespersons, who did not want to be named, declined to comment on the matter. He asked for an SMS instead.

  • NUPENG okays railway haulage of petroleum products

    NUPENG okays railway haulage of petroleum products

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said it has no objection to the use of railways for haulage of petroleum products across the country.

    The South-West Chairman of the Union, Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, told newsmen in Lagos that it is a good development as long as Nigerians would not be deprived the right to get the products at the approved prices.

    “We do not have any objection to any mode of distribution so far it will get to the masses at a reasonable price. Whether they use train or they use helicopter to distribute the products, we cannot kick against it because we know that there is no way a train can get to all the filling stations.

    “They will still park somewhere and use our trucks to get the products to any retail outlets. Even, the locomotive driver that drives any train loaded with petroleum products to any destination will, automatically, become my member,” he said.

    Korodo said the union will create another branch that will be added to the existing one, adding that it is a welcome development if that will be the best way.

    He noted that the best and fastest way to distribute petroleum products is through pipeline, adding that government is running away from it due to the activities of vandals.

    “It is sad that our security agencies cannot protect the pipelines,” he said, asking, “If the security agencies cannot protect our pipelines, then what is the fate of the ordinary Nigerian?”

    NUPENG had on June 1 asked the Federal Government to rehabilitate railways for petroleum haulage.

  • Block terrorists funding sources, NUPENG urges

    Block terrorists funding sources, NUPENG urges

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has implored the Federal Government to block Boko Haram’s sources of financial transactions, fuel supplies, and logistics to forestall further onslaught.

    President of the union, Comrade Igwe Achese, who gave the advice in reaction to recent wave of attacks by the group, which left hundreds of people dead in the northern part of the country, also enjoined the government to re-organise the armed forces to make them fit to face the guerrilla warfare, through adequate training, increase in payment of hazard allowances and other welfare packages to boost their morale.

    He further advised the government to devise a medium and long term plan of action to rejuvenate economic activities in the area, create jobs for the restless youths, with basic education put in place for the many uneducated youths that are used for suicide bombings and killings

    “NUPENG is worried and concerned about the new wave of killings and wanton destruction presently perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents. The union condemns in its entirety the recent attack on the Redeemed Christian Church in Potiskum, where the Pastor and six worshippers were killed.

    “The union also kicks against the killing of over 100 innocent souls in Zamfara and Plateau States by the insurgents,’’ Achese said.

  • Fuel crisis looms in Lagos, Delta, Rivers …as NUPENG issues fresh strike notice

    Fuel crisis looms in Lagos, Delta, Rivers …as NUPENG issues fresh strike notice

    Anxiety over the availability of petroleum products has heightened in some states in the southern part of the country as members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) commence indefinite solidarity strike.

    NUPENG members from Warri, Lagos and Port Harcourt zones agreed at a rally in Warri, Delta State yesterday to commence a solidarity strike in protest against alleged infringements on the rights of their members working for Chevron, an oil company in Warri, Delta State.

    Addressing members of the union drawn from Chevron and other oil servicing companies, the Chairman of the Warri Zone of NUPENG, Comrade Cogent Ojobor, said the solidarity strike would last until the oil giant addresses all alleged injustices.

    Among the demands of the workers are the reinstatement of one of their members, Comrade Ada, payment of 2013 leave allowances, payment of end of contract allowance, job classification and full payment of shift allowance.

    The union also frowned against alleged creation of parallel unions for workers by the oil company, vowing to resist any attempt at dividing NUPENG.

    The union’s leader in the Warri Zone said that NUPENG had written several letters and had held series of meetings with the management of Chevron over time, noting that the company was aware of the newly called strike action.

    He, however, charged members of the union to defend their dignity as they continue to demand fair treatment from the oil company.

    Other leaders of the union who spoke at the rally, which was held at the entrance of Chevron on NPA Road, expressed displeasure at the company’s retirement policy and appealed to NUPENG leadership to address the issue head on.

    Philanthropist names centre after Aisha Buhari Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State yesterday commissioned and handed over an Islamic centre he constructed and named after President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha.

    The Islamic centre, built by Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Dano, is located in Ruru village, Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

    The centre, which comprises a Juma’at mosque and school, was commissioned by the Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia. It is designed to accommodate 300 worshippers and also has four classrooms.

    Speaking at the event, Dano, an ex-officio of the APC in the Northwest, said he had to rebuild the mosque which was built by his father 45 years ago because it had become dilapidated.

    Dano said apart from the centre, he also planned to build a maternity clinic for the village.

    He said he named the centre after Aisha Buhari because of her commitment to women and child development issues.

    The Emir of Dutse, Dr. Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi, who was named the father of the occasion, called on the people of Ruru village to seize the opportunity of the school to send their children there, adding that it was mandatory for the villagers to send their children to both Islamic and western schools in order to become useful members of the society.