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Tag: NUPENG

  • We won’t go on strike, PENGASSAN, NUPENG assure

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said its members would not go on strike.

    Depot owners had threatened to shut down services over issues bordering on non-payment of outstanding subsidy claims.

    The statement by the union came at a time many Nigerians have braced themselves for the usual end of the year scarcity associated with petroleum products in the country.

    But, in a statement signed by PENGASSAN President, Comrade Francis Johnson, the union noted that after series of engagements with government representatives and marketers, coupled with the on-going meetings, consultations and negotiations between the government and oil marketers, they have been assured by the government that the first part of the debt payment will be made not later than December 14, 2018.

    “With this commitment and firm assurance from the government representatives, we have resolved to hold down on taking any action on the issues to allow government fulfil its pledge,” Johnson said.

    While assuring Nigerians that the decision was in the best interest of the nation, the industry as well as job security of its members, the union urged the public to refrain from panic buying or stock piling of petroleum products.

    “Our resolve and decision are purely nationalistic, patriotic and in the overall interest of our great country and we plead for understanding of the general public and all parties in this matter,’’ Johnson said.

    Also, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, has urged his members to remain calm and continue to provide their services as required always.

    The union leader assured his members and the public that the decision was based on upholding the overall interest of the nation, the industry as well as job security of its members. He urged the public to refrain from panic buying or stockpiling of petroleum products.

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    Speaking to newsmen after meeting with officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil marketers’ representatives, Akporeha said they had intervened in the crisis to protect the interest of its members, and that of the country.

    Saying if the subsidy debt issue was not resolved amicably, it might lead to the sack of its members by the oil marketers, Akporeha, however, cautioned its members against joining any strike action not called by the leadership of the unions.

    “Our members should note that until they hear from us, everybody should continue to do their work. If anybody goes against our directive, there are consequences; there are procedures for sanctions,” he said.

    Akporeha assured Nigerians that there would be an unhindered distribution of petroleum products during the yuletide, as its members will not embark on any strike.

  • NUPENG, PENGASSAN say no to strike

    Oil workers unions have reassured the Federal government that its members will not join in the strike being threatened by  depot owners outstanding subsidy claims.

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers  (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said in a joint statement by their presidents Messrs Francis Johnson and Williams Akporeha, in Abuja  that  the unions resolved to hold down on taking any action on the issues to allow government fulfill its pledge.

    “After series of engagements with government representatives and marketers, coupled with the on-going meetings, consultations and negotiations between the government and oil marketers, we have been assured by government that the first part of the debt payment will be made not later than 14th December,” they said.

    “With this commitment and firm assurance from the government representatives, the leadership of NUPENG and PENGASSAN have resolved to hold down on taking any action on the issues to allow government fulfill its pledge.

    “Our members should therefore remain calm and continue to provide their services as required always.”

    The union leaders assured their members and the public that the decisions were based on upholding the overall interest of the nation, the industry as well as job security of its members.

    They urged the public to refrain from panic buying or stockpiling of petroleum products.

    “We firmly believe that the current engagements and discussions among all concerned stakeholders will lead to amicable resolution of matters at hand.

    “Our resolve and decision are purely nationalistic, patriotic and in overall interest of our great country and we plead for understanding of the general public and all parties in this matter,’’ they said.

  • ‘NUPENG, PENGASSAN not going on strike’

    The Oil workers unions have reassured the Federal government that its members would not go on strike over the threat of depot owners to shut down services over issues on payment of outstanding subsidy claims.

    The unions are the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers  (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

    The unions made this known in a joint statement signed by their presidents Messrs Francis Johnson and Willians Akporeha, in Abuja on Saturday.

    “After series of engagements with government representatives and marketers, coupled with the on-going meetings, consultations and negotiations between the government and oil marketers, we have been assured by government that the first part of the debt payment will be made not later than 14th December.

    “With this commitment and firm assurance from the government representatives, the leadership of NUPENG and PENGASSAN have resolved to hold down on taking any action on the issues to allow government fulfill its pledge.

    “Our members should therefore remain calm and continue to provide their services as required always,’’ it said.

    The unions leaders assured their members and the public that the decisions was based on upholding the overall interest of the nation, the industry as well as job security of its members.

    They urged the public to refrain from panic buying or stock pilling of petroleum products.

    “We firmly believe that the current engagements and discussions among all concerned stakeholders will lead to amicable resolution of matters at hand.

    “Our resolve and decision are purely nationalistic, patriotic and in overall interest of our great country and we plead for understanding of the general public and all parties in this matter,’’ they said.

  • NUPENG kicks against oil firms’ proscription plan

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas  Workers (NUPENG) has called on Nigerians to support its  fight against the alleged plan by oil companies to force the body into extinction.

    NUPENG President Mr. Williams Akporeha made the call at a dinner to celebrate its forthcoming 40th anniversary, in Lagos.

    He said casualisation of workers and outsourcing were major malaises affecting oil workers, adding that companies’ managements hire human resources managers with the mission to ensure that workers don’t join the union and known union members laid off.

    According to him, the union has adopted various strategies to ensure it continued to remain relevant to workers in the oil and gas sub-sector as well as Nigerians.

    “Management of oil companies are coming up with various policies to phase out NUPENG and we have embarked on a lot of struggles to ensure that those plans do not come to fruition.

    “We have situations where oil management today puts policies to ensure that workers who are supposed to be under NUPENG cadre are not employed.

    “When they are employed, they must be under contract and they ensure that they are not unionised and that’s the challenge we continue to face.

    “And if as a leader today, I don’t up my game or realise that those are the challenges I must face then I am very sure it will get to a time where you will not have NUPENG anymore.

    “My major challenge now is to save NUPENG from extinction with focus being to protect members’ jobs as it is relevant to have members in the oil and gas sector to ensure our continuity against management’s wish.”

    Akporeha said calling for industrial actions, which the union is known was an option of last resort. According to him, it was usually caused by attempts to deny union members their rights hence, they have a right to fight not only for themselves, but for all Nigerians.

    “No one in his right senses likes to be on the street under scorching sun to protest as its being ascribed to us, but situations caused it and we have to be ready to fight for our members and all strata of the Nigerian public.

    “We protest when our foundation is threatened. Policies to phase us out of existence are what we are against and are what I will fight as I believe my ascension is not a mistake. Promotion of NUPENG ideals must continue,” he said.

    The president, who rose through the ranks from a floor member in 1992, said the union, under his watch, wants to rebrand its identity from one always on strike by explaining the reasons for such industrial actions to the public.

    He said no matter the intimidation from management, NUPENG must continue to move forward.

    He said plans are on ground to celebrate former leaders of the union, companies and Nigerians at the anniversary coming up in December.

     

  • PENGASSAN, NUPENG to collaborate with NCDMB on local content

    The national executives of the Petroleum and the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and their counterparts – Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) – have pledged to collaborate with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on local content development in the oil and gas industry.

    The unions made the commitment during a visit to the NCDMB headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    PENGASSAN National Chairman  Comrade Francis Johnson commended the Board’s effort to the growth and development of the oil sector by encouraging indigenous participation.

    He said: “This engagement with the Board is quite revealing. We have learnt a lot about the laudable interventions of NCDMB. There is no better time to work with the Board. We are committed to work with you.”

    Johnson urged the Board  to prevent portfolio firms from grabbing the contracts, which would help to build and deepen the Nigerian content in the sector.

    On the Board’s headquarters construction, the PENGASSAN chief described the project as laudable. He said: “On behalf of PENGASSAN/NUPENG, I want to commend NCDMB for this project and I hope it will be completed soonest as we will be here to be a part of the official commissioning.”

    The Board’s Executive Secretary, Simbi Wabote, denied that the Board awards contracts. He reiterated that the NOGICD Act 2010 mandates the Board to review and approve the Nigerian Content plan and issue compliance certificates to  firms adhering to the Law.

    “Contrary to the widespread belief that NCDMB awards contracts, let me categorically say the Board is mandated to review, assess and approve Nigerian Content plans developed by operators.  We issue certificate of authorisation for projects that comply with Nigerian Content provisions,” Wabote said.

    Wabote highlighted the structure and operations of the Board and how both unions could enhance local content. He explained that the Nigerian Content is not about Nigerianisation but rather domestication and domiciliation of value-adding activities in-country.

    He said the Board’s efforts since the enactment of the Act had yielded tangible benefits, citing establishment and upgrade of fabrication yards, pipe coating plants, upstream production managed by indigenous companies, production of low/high voltage cables and partial integration of Egina floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), as some of them.

    The NCDMB boss said the major challenges of the Board include infrastructure for the movement of materials, inter-agency collaboration, policy consistency and attraction of investors to set-up manufacturing outfit locally.

    Wabote called for the Unions’ support for the Board. He disclosed  the agency’s readiness to collaborate with the union.

    NUPENG Chairman Comrade Williams Akporeha said their collaboration with the Board would be total. He noted that they were happy with the Board’s achievemnets. He, however, suggested that NCDMB  woud introduce periodic consultative forum with the unions to boost Nigerian content practice.

    Akporeha said the Board has a major role to play to ensure smooth operations in the oil and gas industry and advised that NCDMB examine international practices on remunerations to employees

  • NNPC allays fear over fuel scarcity

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) has assured that there is enough fuel in the country and that there is no need for panic buying of petroleum products by motorists and the public.

    The corporation disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, It’s spokesman, in Abuja, on Friday.

    This, followed reports of an ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over a purported intervention by an arm of the security agencies in what the union viewed as purely labour matters involving a company and its workers in Delta State.

    He added that the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru and his Management team, were engaging the parties involved, saying the parties are close to resolving the issues.

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    Ughamadu in the statement advised motorists and other consumers of petroleum products not to engage in panic buying as the NNPC Management was close to reaching an amicable resolution of the challenge.

    NNPC assured that the corporation had adequate storage of petroleum products across the country and advised that they should not entertain any fear of petroleum shortages.

  • NUPENG to boost workers’ welfare

    Plans are underway by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to increase the welfare of its workers to boost productivity.

    Its President, Williams Akporeha, stated this during a meeting at its national secretariat in Lagos.

    The workers are demanding staff performance evaluation; identifying aspects where training and development would be required in the interest of NUPENG.

    At the meeting, the workers’ council commended Akporeha for his leadership role and for the achievements he recorded within a short period of his assumption of office.

    The council’s Chairman, Chinda Ejims, expressed appreciation to the national executive council, saying,

    “Sir, your magnanimity and milestone achievements within the period of your assumption of office and in particular, the strive to better and improve the NUPENG workers’ condition of service is overwhelming and commendable.”

    The NUPENG boss thanked the workers’ council for the trust and confidence they reposed in him since he took the mantle of leadership in April.

  • NUPENG begins strike in Warri, gives military 24-hour ultimatum

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has given the military 24 hours ultimatum to vacate the premises of an oil and gas firm to avert a nationwide strike.

    At a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday, NUPENG President, Mr Williams Akporeha, called on the Chief of Army Staff to withdraw soldiers from the premises of Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO) and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Ltd located in Warri, Delta.

    “NUPENG as an organization has written to the Chief of Army Staff that soldiers be removed from the work site, that what we have on ground is not a terrorist situation but an industrial relations matter.

    “Our prayers right now is that those soldiers that are there be redeployed within the next 24 hours or else we shall have no option but to embark on a nationwide industrial action,’’ Akporeha said.

    He also called on the Delta State Governor to wade into the matter, adding that the union had directed its members in Warri to immediately shut down over intimidation by their employer and harassment by the military.

    Akporeha disclosed that over 2,000 of its members had been sacked by the oil and gas companies for active unionism, describing the action as oppressive and a height of high handedness on the part of the firms.

    He said the firm had seven land rigs drilling in Kwale, Warri but that only two of them belonged to the union, adding that efforts by the other five groups to be unionised was resisted by the multinational corporation.

    Akporeha said the union in an attempt to resolve the matter, issued a press statement but was shocked that soldiers were brought in forcing members to renounce their membership of the union in order to keep their jobs.

    He alleged that the firm owned by Indians, forced workers with the help of the military into accepting working conditions that were not in line with labour laws of Nigeria.

    He urged Nigerians to rise up against the practice as no Nigerian could do same in any other country.

    “When the union decided to question why the company decided to continue to resist the rights of workers to unionize, what we saw was deployment of military troops to hound and evacuate those workers that agreed to be part of the union.

    “We feel that there are some processes that are no more fashionable in a democratic and a decent society than bringing soldiers to intimate harmless workers who are asking for their rights and especially just mere rights to identify with a union.

    “As we speak, soldiers are distributing new employment forms of none identification with union to members if they must remain on the job.

    “We have directed our members in Delta State to withdraw their services in protest of this unfortunate situation and we using this opportunity to also ask the governor of the state to immediately intervene to avoid turning his state into a dance floor for industrial crisis,” he said.

    Akporeha said that if the management of the oil and gas firms were not called to order, the union will embark on full scale nationwide strike.

    The NUPENG president noted that negotiations with the management of the companies failed because they came up with “a fraudulent, unacceptable idea” that they were ready to remit check off dues of workers to the union without allowing the workers to unionise. (NAN)

  • NUPENG to police: fish out our official’s killers

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged the police to fish out the killers of the Chairman of its branch at Dutchess Energy Oghara Unit of Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD), Emmanuel Akpojevwughe.

    A statement by NUPENG National President, Williams Akporeha, said: “We are still in shock over the death of our cherished member, Akpojevwughe (aka Awo), who was Chairman of Dutchess Energy Oghara Unit of Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of Nigeria Union of NUPENG.

    “The late Akpojevwughe was gruesomely shot at close range on Thursday, August 16, and was left in the pool of his blood by yet-to-be identified assailants.

    “As a union that believes in the sanctity of life, we deeply condemn this heinous, callous, unfortunate and dastardly act and, therefore, call on the police, particularly the Delta State Command, to fish out the killers of Comrade Akpojevwughe and make them face the full weight of the law with immediate effect.

    “The leadership of NUPENG further demands an independent investigation into his death and urge the police to unravel the true circumstances that led to this untimely and avoidable death.

    “Meanwhile, we are also appealing to the deceased’s families, friends, colleagues and associates to be consoled by the knowledge that our departed comrade was a good man.

    “Akpojevwughe’s legacy lives and will continue to live on and his esteemed memory can never be stained or blotted out. The pain and agony of his demise in the past few days is still fresh and we don’t need further gloating at the anguish already inflicted. Therefore, we task the police and other security agents to do the needful within shortest possible time so that justice can be accordingly served.

    “Adieu, Comrade.”

  • NUPENG seeks completion of park in three months

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has urged the Lagos State government to complete the Orile petroleum tanker parking bay within three months to ameliorate the suffering of the masses on Ikorodu-Apapa Road.

    The union said this in a statement by its General Secretary, Adamu Song.

    It also called for petroleum products pipelines repair and for strategic depots across the country to be adequately secured from vandals to reduce the concentration of loading petroleum products from Apapa area.

    The union expressed concern on the seeming intractable traffic gridlock at Apapa Port for years and severally offered options for solutions.

    “Since Apapa Port for now, serves as receiving port for more than 75 per cent of goods imports and road transportation is majorly the means of taking these goods into the hinter land, petroleum tankers and other articulated vehicles must necessarily come to Lagos. And in same manner, the vehicles must have a place to park.

    “We propose that the designated Orile petroleum tanker parking space should be urgently given to a very competent and reputable construction company to build within a timeline of 3 months. The access roads in and out of Apapa are long overdue for expansion and reconstruction, yet successive governments have been avoiding making the infrastructural investment that holds the key to the door of the nation’s wealth and prosperity,” said the union.