May Day Message: NUPENG Offers Panacea To Cushion Effect Of Oil Subsidy Withdrawal

By Ayodele Oni

As workers celebrate this year’s May Day, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has advised that local refineries must work and commence operation before the removal of subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).

A statement on Monday, jointly signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha and General Secretary,  Olawale Afolabi maintained that government must ensure full operation before an important policy such as the removal of subsidy on PMS could be taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.

“On the issue of the removal of subsidy on PMS, our position remains same as ever as we shall continue to call on the government as we have always done in all our presentations to ensure that our local refineries are put into full operation before an important policy such as the removal of subsidy on PMS can be taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.”

NUPENG also warned against unwarranted attacks, intimidation and burning of members trucks, while on genuine and legal haulage of petroleum products “by some barbaric security agents, most especially among the Nigeria army Anti-Bunkering Task Force operating in the South-South region of the country.”

The union vowed to resist any such attempt, saying it cannot continue to fold its hands and watch its members lose their sources of livelihood in the hands of the armed men.

“The Union will no longer condone unwarranted attacks, intimidation and burning of their petroleum trucks, while on genuine and legal haulage of petroleum products by some barbaric security agents, most especially among the Nigeria Army Anti-Bunkering Task Force operating in the South-South region of the country.

“Henceforth, we will start to resist this because we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our members lose their sources of livelihood in the hands of those armed men.

“We condemn in totality the anti-union behavior and employment tactics of some unscrupulous indigenous and multi-national employers, who have unfortunately turned the Nigeria Local Content Law into ambit of slavery and precarious employment rather than a source of fulfilling employment and empowerment for teeming qualified young Nigerians.”

The leadership of the union however, commended “the patriotic efforts of petroleum tanker drivers, who even in the face of unfavorable and harsh conditions of work including the parlous state of highways and intimidation and harassment from some unscrupulous security forces, are still working hard to ensure that factories and other businesses are kept running and homes are kept comfortable for Nigerians.”