News
Petroleum Products: Amaechi Faults NUPENG Over Importation …As Oil Workers Insist On Strike
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has faulted plans by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to engage in the importation of petroleum products into the country.
Speaking while commissioning NUPENG’s South-South zonal office complex in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi said the union should rather demand for the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, to allow private firms build refineries in Nigeria to check over dependence on imported products.
The governor disclosed that the present situation where the Federal Government spends about N600 billion subsidising petroleum products would not encourage investments in building refineries, stressing that if government removes subsidy, there would be competition in building refineries, and more people would be employed.
He blamed NUPENG leadership for abandoning the struggle against injustices, a role played by the founding fathers of the union, including people like Frank Kokori and joining the Nigerian state to perpetrate injustice on the people of the Niger Delta region by locating NUPENG’s headquarter office outside Niger Delta, in an area where oil is not produced.
According to him, “what is NUPENG’s Head Office doing in Lagos, when all the oil companies operate in Niger Delta. You should know what justice is all about, so, what is the struggle against unfair treatment, I think the struggle ended with people like comrade Kokori”.
The State Chief Executive, opined that the much-needed development of Nigeria would not be achieved without a vibrant opposition party and in this case, the labour unions.
The governor argued that the task of moving the country forward should not be left in the hands of the government of the day, as concerted efforts should be made to uplift the genuine struggle, because the interest of the nation supersedes individual gain.
“I believe Nigeria can change, we have the resources to make the change if we govern well”, Governor Amaechi declared, while calling on all stakeholders to do their best for the country to bring about the desired change, and position Nigeria as the giant of Africa.
Governor Amaechi congratulated the leadership of NUPENG for the achievement within a short time in office and promised to provide a power generating plant at the new NUPENG office in Port Harcourt and a bus to the union for their operation.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Austen Oninwo, represented by Mr Tony Ogbuigwe, lauded the leadership of NUPENG and promised continued cooperation with the body as the NNPC plans to build more refineries in the country to ensure increased production of petroleum products.
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, commended Governor Amaechi for honouring the invitation, and for the various achievements recorded by his administration in education, health and road infrastructure which according to him, is a testimony that Rivers people did not make mistake in electing him to serve them.
Earlier, the President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, said the union frowns at the current hike in prices of kerosene and diesel, adding that NUPENG had concluded plans to build petrol stations across the nation as talks were on to begin the importation of petroleum products with a foreign partnership.
Governor Amaechi was presented with NUPENG’s Eminent Individual Award, for outstanding achievements in leadership.
Meanwhile, workers in the oil and gas sector last Saturday vowed to go ahead with their planned strike if companies in the downstream sector fail to recall their sacked members.
The workers spoke in Lagos under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, President, South-West branch of NUPENG, told newsmen that the companies had continued to sack their members and refused them to be unionised.
“The management of M.R.S oil and gas sacked 36 of our members because they were unionised,” he said.
He said that the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company through its subsidiary SNEPCO, also sacked 15 of its workers without paying their entitlements.
Korodo said it was regrettable that the companies failed to respect the Nigerian constitution that guarantees freedom of association.
He said that the Nigeria Agip Oil Company had also concluded arrangements to sack more workers “two months after it laid off hundreds of workers.”
“The number of people they sacked two months ago has populated the already unemployed market and this is contrary to the Federal Government’s efforts to curb unemployment.
“The situation is sad because the union had agreed with the management of Agip that workers will not be sacked again till further notice.
“Another issue is that workers in LFA oil and gas, a subsidiary of Chevron Nigeria Limited was asked to join the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW),” he said.
According to him, the LFA ordered the workers to join NURTW instead of NUPENG when they insisted on belonging to a union.
“ How can they ask oil workers to join NURTW? We are kicking against it and we will continue to protect the interest of our members till justice prevail,’’ the union leader said.
Korodo, who did not disclose the date for the strike, said they did not want to disrupt the general elections, that was why they waited till now.
He blamed the scarcity of kerosene on the failure of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to supply the product.
“People are scrambling for kerosene because the Ibadan, Shagamu and Ilorin depots which belong to NNPC are not loading kerosene,’’ he said.
He said that the union members were ready to work as soon as the depots were loaded with kerosene.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
News2 days ago
Tinubu Never Stopped 5-year Visa For U S. Citizens – Presidency ?
-
Featured2 days agoINEC To Unveil New Party Registration Portal As Applications Hit 129
-
Business2 days ago
Industry Leaders Defend Local Content, … Rally Behind NCDMB
-
Sports2 days ago
Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans
-
Niger Delta2 days agoC’River Focused On Youth Empowerment – Commissioner
-
News2 days ago
UN Warns Floods May Unleash Toxic Chemicals, Pose Risk To Elderly, Ecosystems
-
Rivers2 days ago
NSE Members Tasked On National Dev
-
Business2 days ago
NCDMB Promises Oil Industry Synergy With Safety Boots Firm