Oil Workers Give Conditions For Sale of Refineries

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the
National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers have renewed their threat to
shut down the oil sector if the federal government goes ahead with its plan to privatise the
refineries.

According to them, selling the refineries without their participation would amount to shaving their heads in their absence.

The oil workers also insisted that the transaction should follow due process to ensure that the most competent investors emerge as the core investors.

The two oil workers unions that spoke in their reaction to the setting up of a steering committee
by President Goodluck Jonathan to oversee the process, also told Thisday yesterday that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) must be passed as a pre-condition for the sale of the refineries.

General Secretary, National Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr. Isaac
Aberare, said the union was yet to be officially informed of any stakeholders’ committee set up
by the government.

Aberare, who spoke in a telephone conversation
with Thisday, reiterated the union’s decision to embark on a nationwide strike until government rescinds its decision to privatise the refineries.

He hinted that NUPENG and its sister union- the
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) would soon meet to fix a date for the execution of the planned
industrial action.

“Government must engage labour unions in the sector to discuss the model for the planned
privatisation. We were not informed about any committee being set up. If government sets up a committee without involving the labour then, they have not met our demand.

“At the intervention meeting with the Minister of Power shortly after our protest, we emphasised
that government should retract the plan to privatise the refineries and engage the unions but
up till now, they have not met nor informed us of any meeting.

“The leadership of NUPENG and the PENGASSAN will soon meet and take a decision on the execution of our planned protest. It is at that meeting that a date will be fixed for our protest,”
Aberare said.

The two unions had officially kicked against the planned privatisation of the four refineries since the pronouncement was made few weeks ago.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nigeria announces Discovery of 44 New Mineral Deposits Across the Country

Image
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday announced the discovery of 44 new mineral deposits in 800 locations across the country in addition to the over 50 billion barrels of oil reserves. He also disclosed that efforts were being made to generate power from coal in line with his administration transformation agenda. President Jonathan who stated this at a 50th Annual International Conference and Exhibitions of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Benin City, the Edo state capital, said the implementation of road map for the development of solid mineral sector in 2012 has no doubt led to increased sustained flow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in exploration and extraction of minerals- which include coal, gold, iron and ore. Represented by the Minister of Mines & Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada, Jonathan noted: "We are full of optimism that not only will more mineral types and new locations be discovered, the exploration and exploitation of these valuab...
Read more

See The Full List of 2013 Headies Award

Image
The event was hosted by Tiwa Savage and Dr Sid, with star performance from the likes of Iyanya, Olamide, Waje, Phyno, Praiz, Seyi Shay, Niyola, Zaina and Yemi Alade. As expected, Olamide ruled the night with three awards. See the full list of winners below: Best Recording of the Year I Wish – Waje Good Morning – Brymo Natural Something – Sound Sultan This Year – Jaywon – WINNER! Producer of the Year Pheelz – Durosoke DTunes – Sho Lee - WINNER! Del B – Limpopo Leriq – Like to Party Legendury Beatz – Emi Ni Baller Best Music Video Alingo – Jude Okoye/Clarence Peters - WINNER! Oliver Twist – Sesan Gaga Crazy – Aje Filmworks Azonto – Moe Musa Yes/No – Clarence Peters Best R&B/Pop Album Iyanya Vs. Desire – Iyanya O.B.O. – Davido - WINNER! R&BW – Banky W Blessed– Flavour Away & Beyond – 2Face Idibia Best R&B Single Don’t Let Go...
Read more

Man Receives 20 Lashes For Practicing Homosexuality in Bauchi

Image
A Nigerian man has received 20 lashes after an Islamic court in the northern city of Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences. Under Islamic law, courts can punish homosexual acts by stoning to death. But the judge said he took into account that the Muslim man, Mubarak Ibrahim, 20, carried out the acts seven years ago, and had stopped the practice. In Nigeria, homosexual acts are illegal under both Islamic and secular law and restrictions have been tightened. Earlier this month, President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a bill which bans same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection. The new legislation applies throughout Nigeria. Most states in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria have adopted Islamic law, known as Sharia, since the end of military rule in 1999. Along with Mr Ibrahim, 11 other Muslims and a Christian man were arrested last month accused by the authorities of being homosexuals. He was also ordered to pay a fine of about $30 ...
Read more