NUPENG @40: It has been four decades of unrelenting struggles —Akporeha

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) celebrated its effective 40 years of existence as one of the foremost trade unions in the country with a declaration from its President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, that the last four decades have been of unrelenting struggles for the Union.

President Muhammadu Buhari also used the two-day event to assured that he would give prompt attention to; and sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) when it is sent to him by the National Assembly.

Also, the Human Rights Activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Barrister Femi Falana, called for immediate end to monopoly of oil and gas industry by foreign interest groups.

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In his address, Comrade Akporeha stated that in the last four decades, the consistent struggle has been in defence of the rights of the union members, improvement of working conditions of all oil and gas workers in the country, enthronement of industrial peace and harmony in the industry and also on social, political and economic development of the country.

Specifically, Akporeha cited the historical role played by NUPENG during the June 12, 1993 struggle, under its referred leaders, Late Wariebi Kojo Agamene and Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori, who were arrested and detained for four years as a result of the struggle.

The NUPENG President said: “It has been four decades of unrelenting struggles in defence of the rights of our members and improvement of the working conditions of all oil and gas workers in Nigeria.

“Without sounding immodest, NUPENG has in the last four decades consistently and creditably contributed not only to the growth and development of the Nigeria oil and gas industry, the enthronement of industrial peace and harmony in the oil and gas industry but it has also positively impacted on the socio, political and economic development of Nigeria as a nation.”

He added, “legendary amongst the battles was the struggle for the restoration of the collective mandate of Nigerians freely and fairly given on June 12, 1993. It was a battle we embarked in defence of democracy. The battle brought out the latent revolutionary capacity and posture of NUPENG with its sister organization, PENGASSAN.

“We suffered dearly for the courage and patriotic determination we exhibited in the June 12 struggle. So many of our comrades were beaten, brutalized, maimed, killed and detained without trials.

“NUPENG was proscribed and leaders of the Union, President of NUPENG then, Comrade (late) Wariebi Kojo Argamene and the then General Secretary of the Union, Comrade Frank Ovie Kokoriwere arrested and made to suffer series of dehumanizing treatments in detention for four years.”

In his own speech, President Buhari promised to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) into Law; once the bill is presented to him.

Represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, the President said the PIGB would improve industrial harmony in the Oil and Gas sector; even as he pledged his administration unwavering commitment to increased collaboration with organized labour for the progress of the nation.

He said: “Certain revolutionary steps have been taken in the Oil industry which will aid the peaceful co-existence of employers and employees in the sector”.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 40th Anniversary of NUPENG with a theme: “Nigeria Oil and Gas Workers; Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow “ President Buhari noted that employers and employees have a symbiotic relationship, as their mutual survival depended on a harmonious partnership between them.

He called on Labour to always dialogue instead of shutting down the country while in a dispute with their Employers.

“Mr President asked me to congratulate you on the celebrations of your 40 years in existence. He is a workers friendly President that is concern about better working condition for workers. He is a president that respect the rule of law and the law of the land. He promised to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill once is brought to him.”

Barrister Falana, who was the lead speaker regretted that in spite of the fact that oil was discovered in Nigeria over 60 years ago, the neo-colonial state has not made conscious efforts to control the petroleum industry, hence all the Acts promulgated and decree made to regulate the industry, have failed to give effect to local content in the petroleum industry.

Stressing the need to end the monopoly of oil and gas industry by foreign interest groups; he pointed out that the upstream industry has for decades functioned as an enclave economy with minimal impact on the wider industry.

Falana criticized President Buhari for his failure to sign the PIGB, adding that, “the refusal of President Buhari to sign the Petroleum Industry Bill into law is a major victory for the International Oil Companies (IOCs), which would have to do with new fiscal terms in favour of Nigeria, increasing local ownership of the oil and gas industry, and strict control of industrial waste and pollution of the oil producing communities.

He, however, advised NUPENG and PENGASSAN, to invest in the training of their members to acquire the requisite knowledge in petroleum technology, since the industry requires skilled staff in many areas.

He warned that unless oil workers and the Nigerian people are prepared to ensure the enforcement of the Nigeria Content Act and other relevant legislations and policies the foreign control of the oil and gas industry will not cease.