From Ben Dunno, Warri
The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) yesterday, handed down a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government within which to halt the ongoing mass sack of oil workers by International Oil Companies (IOCs) or be prepared to face a mass action that would worsen the country’s economic recession.
Handing down the threat in a communique issued by the Central Working Committee (CWC) at a meeting in Warri, Delta State, NUPENG noted that over 3,000 workers have so far been sacked by oil majors and service companies which are closing shop on account of the current recession.
NUPENG National President, Igwe Achese, who threw more light on the plight of oil workers in the country since the recession, blamed the Muhammadu Buhari -led Federal Government for aggravating the crisis in the oil industry by its failure to meet its Joint Venture (JV) cash calls and stifling the populace by concentrating on fight against corruption while the economy suffers.
He said, “as I address you, Chevron has wound up its Eastern operations and its offices have been closed. A total of 1,500 workers were sacked without their entitlements and nobody is saying anything. As we speak, many companies have left, while others are winding up.
“ExxonMobil has asked its contract staff to go, that it can no longer pay them. Pan Ocean, Sapiem, Grand Petroleum, Hercules Offshore, all around Warri, have closed shop. About 3,000 workers have already been sacked by various oil companies,” he said.
“The Federal Government should act fast to avert further loss of jobs. There is too much redundancy in the oil industry. NUPENG will take all necessary action to drive home its demands if government fails to act in 21 days. We are 100 per cent in support of the fight against corruption but there must be respite for Nigerians.
“Right now, our members and even those in other sectors are no longer able to pay school fees for their children and even afford rents. Worse still, those being sacked now are so treated without commitment to proper terminal benefits,” Achese stated.
On perceived government failure in reviving the oil industry, the union called for urgent passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Federal Government regularisation of its JV cash calls while vehemently kicking against sale of national assets and asking industry regulators to wake up to their responsibilities.
He said, “the CWC in session notes that it is a shame that Ghana, which recently discovered oil has passed its PIB into law. We frown at the politics that beclouds passage of the PIB in the past eight years when it was first sent to the National Assembly.
“CWC frowns at the refusal of and delay in payment of JV cash calls to the multinationals, which has created serious liquidity challenges resulting in negotiating redundancies almost on daily basis.
“We x-rayed state of the economy and believe a lot needs to be done to put it on track. The Federal Government should urgently address the challenges posed by inflation, which has risen to 17.9 per cent and the non-payment of workers’ salaries at local and state levels.”
NUPENG further called on government through its relevant agencies to stop the kidnapping of citizens with introduction of new technologies to track perpetrators of such acts and bring them to book.
It, however, commended the successes recorded so far in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East, adding that government should boost morale of its fighting force by enhancing welfare and armaments in order to completely win the war.