NLC Accuses Energy Ministry Staff Of Taking Bribe

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has accused staff of the Rivers State Ministry of Energy of carrying out sharp practices and compromising with Independent Petroleum Marketers and filling station operators to the detriment of the people.

The State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Chris Oruge in his address at the May Day celebration in Port Harcourt alleged that the staff of the Ministry of Energy involved themselves in the monitoring of petrol dealers and filling station operators and receiving bribe from them.

Oruge observed that the ministry staff had no right to monitor petroleum activities in the state and called on the government to check the development and stop them.

He said labour had been in the vanguard of positive militancy and social relevance with the civil society in checking the excesses in the oil sector, pointing out that labour fought the  battle against unfair fuel pricing and unnecessary scarcity of the product.

In his speech, the state chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Hyginus Chika Onuegbu reminded government of the communiqué signed between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Federal Government concerning the grievances of the oil and gas workers.

According to Onuegbu, in the communiqué signed on behalf of Federal Government by the Minister of Labour on April 12, 2012 contained  the issues of reckless abandon with which the National Industrial Court granted exparte and other forms of injunctions.

Other grievances of the oil and gas worker include undue delay in the determination of labour disputes by the courts, PENGASSAN’s matters with Pressure Control, Van Onne/Marine Platform, Hydrodive, MRS Oil and Gas Plc, Baker Hughes among others.

The TUC chairman threatened that if the issues were not adequately resolved, the oil and gas workers would have no option than to withdraw their services, pointing out that if they cannot obtain justice from the courts there would be industrial showdown.

He appealed to the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to intervene in the matter affecting 320 laid-off staff of West African Glass Industry (WAGI) whose gratuity benefits are yet to be paid since October 2009 while some of them are dead.

“This is particularly painful in view of the fact that the company management headed by Mr. Mirchandari has refused to pay and respect the award obtained from the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP).

Efforts to see the Commissioner for Energy for comment was fruitless as he was said to be outside the office.

Shedie Okpara