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PENGASSAN Strike In Nation’s Interest – TUC

Published

9 years ago

July 11, 2016

The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, has said that the nationwide strike, embarked upon by members of the Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) was in the best interest of Nigerians.
The Tide recalls that last Friday, oil workers across the country, embarked on strike to protest the non-payment of over $7billion joint venture cash call obligations to oil multinationals by the Federal Government, the mass sack of workers by oil companies, insecurity in the work environment as a result of militants’ attacks, among other issues.
Onuegbu, a staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, whose tenure elapses as TUC chairman in Rivers State on July 21, 2016, said this in Port Harcourt while fielding questions from journalists over the effectiveness of the industrial action.
The TUC chairman, who was PENGASSAN’s immediate past national industrial relations officer (NIRO), stated that the refusal of the Federal Government to offset it’s share of $7billion liabilities in the joint venture agreement with the oil and gas companies had led to the unprecedented sack of workers in the industry in the last couple of months.
He said: “The actions of government are having greater consequences on the economy. Government has not offset the liabilities of over $7billion owed the joint venture partners in the oil and gas industry.
“Our people working in the oil and gas industry are being sacked. By government, not being able to invest in the oil and gas industry, the returns in the oil and gas industry has reduced, and because of that, the allocation to the federation account is going down,” he added.
Meanwhile, The Tide reports that there has been total compliance of PENGASSAN members with the directive to embark on an indefinite strike since last Friday.
In Port Harcourt, the strike was hugely successful, as many members were not in their offices.
When The Tide visited some of the companies, especially NNPC office on Moscow Road, the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) at Alesa-Eleme, Shell Industrial Area at Rumuobiakani, and Total Complex in Trans Amadi, PENGASSAN officials were seen blocking the main gates to their office premises, with no activity inside.
At the NNPC depot in Port Harcourt, the management of the depot initially tried to use industrial trainees (IT) and contract staff to load/offload fuel trucks, but before noon, the leadership of the depot was called to order and the loading was stopped.
Some of the PENGASSAN leaders, who spoke to The Tide, confirmed that their members fully complied with the directive of the national leadership to embark on strike, insisting that the purported reports that the union was to put the strike on hold until after a meeting with Federal Government representatives today, were only part of ‘propaganda’ by those spreading it.
At the Warri zone, there was total compliance except for members in Chevron who had reported to work before 7am but later joined by vacating their offices around before 10 a.m.
“There was no lifting of petroleum products in Warri or anywhere in the zone as our members fully complied with the strike directive,” a PENGASSAN official said.
In Abuja, few members of the association who reported for duty early in the morning were turned back from the NNPC Towers, except for NUPENG members and management staff who went about their normal duties.
A release issued by the National Public Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, stated that there was total compliance in government agencies, as the staff stayed away from their offices.
At the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEFMB) headquarters, virtually all offices were locked.
Ojugbana said: “Members of the association in Lagos also stayed away from their offices, and there was no lifting of petroleum products at the depots and loading bays.
“Even those at the jetties and other critical sections where crude are lifted in Port Harcourt and Lagos also abandoned their duty posts.
“In Kaduna, there was total compliance with the strike directive as members stayed out of their offices.
“Most offices in the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) were empty and there was no lifting of petroleum products from the depots.
“We commend the support of our NUPENG members here who supported PENGASSAN in ensuring that there was total compliance.”
Ojugbana confirmed full compliance by members, saying that the strike is not only about the members of the association but about the survival of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
He said: “The inability of the government to fund the Joint Venture (JV) operations and settle cash call arrears has denied the country of new investments while the existing operations and activities are being stalled.
“This has resulted in lack of new job opportunities while our members who have been in employments are losing their jobs because their employers could not meet their salary obligations to them.
“The union demands the immediate action of government to address the challenge of funding/cash call arrears to avoid the imminent collapse of the industry.
“The government must provide feasible guidelines to clear all outstanding payments going forward and evolve a pragmatic system of funding the Joint Venture (JV) operations,” he said.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhaha

Featured

Rivers LG Poll: APC Wins 20 chairmanship seats, PDP Clears Three

Published

2 days ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.

According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.

APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.

The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.

Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.

Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.

Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.

Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.

The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.

Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas

Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.

National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.

John Bibor & King Onunwor

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RSG Commences Revitalization Of 200 Health Centres

Published

2 weeks ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has commenced the revitalization of over 200 primary health care centres across the state.

Senior Special Adviser to the Rivers State Administrator on Health Matters, Professor Chituru Orluwene, disclosure this during an enrollment sensitization campaign organised by the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) at Ogale in Eleme Local Government Area of the State.

He said the government was also equipping all zonal hospitals as well as revitalizing all General hospitals across the state.

Orluwene said the ongoing programme was in line with the promise by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd), to bring affordable and quality health care services to the door steps of the people.

According to him, the programme will not only increase the average lifespan of the people but also reduce poverty and sufferings.

The Special Adviser called for mass enrollment into the RIVCHPP, and listed some of the benefits to include free and affordable health care services, among others.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, RIVCHPP, Dr (Mrs) Vetty Agala, disclosed that over 108,000 persons have so far enrolled with the RIVCHPP within the last one year.

Dr Agala said the programme which started during the administration of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, also has the backing of the State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd).

She noted that lack of access to quality health care had not only affected the average lifespan of Rivers people but increased poverty and suffering.

The Executive Secretary who stressed the need for the people to embrace the programme, said free medical treatment would be given to those who enrolled with it, adding that registration will guarantee free and affordable health care services to the people

According to her, government is also ensuring that all vulnerable groups including those with disabilities, widows, pregnant women, the aged, children and the downtrodden benefit maximally from the programme.

She said her team would move round the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to sensitize the people on the benefits of the programme.

The Sole Administrator of Eleme Local Government Council, Dr Gloria Obo Dibiah, announced that the council would sponsor over 2,000 less privilege persons from the area for the RIVCHPP programme.

She said the enrollment of 100 persons out of the 2,000 will start immediately.

According to her, the 2,000 beneficiaries will include people with disabilities, pregnant women, the aged, and children.

Dibiah further promised to assist the would-be beneficiaries to get their National Identity Numbers as soon as possible to enable them register for the programme.

She said the sponsorship was part of her administration’s commitment to improving the health care needs of the people of Eleme, and commended RIVCHPP for choosing Eleme to flag off the sensitization programme.

John Bibor

Featured

Nigeria Accounts For 70% Of 11m Illegal Arms In W/Africa

Published

3 weeks ago

August 15, 2025

The Tide

The National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) says that Nigeria is accountable for 70 per cent of 11 million illegal arms and light weapons in West Africa,

Mr Alex Ebimiebo, the South South Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, made the remark at the Naval Warfare Course 9 Inter-Agency seminar, organised by the Naval War College in Calabar on Thursday.

Ebimiebo presented a paper themed, “Strengthening Security Agencies Collaboration to Counter Illicit Arms Proliferation for Enhanced National Security in Nigeria.”

He said that the illegal arms dealings were largely responsible for Nigeria’s 2.2 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 26,000 refugees in neighboring countries.

Ebimiebo further said that arms proliferation had led to economic distortions, an increase in violence, crime, and impediment to peace building.

He, however, called for concerted effort from all Nigerians to tackle the menace, saying that NCCSALW would take the fight to the society since security is the responsibility of everyone.

“So, as a result, everybody is a stakeholder, so as such, we need to involve the whole society in this fight and the center has a lot of programmes for collaboration with our sister agencies.

”We also have advocacy and sensitisation programmes that we take to members of the general public from time to time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Akinola Oludude, Commandant, Naval War College, expressed concern on the influx of illicit arms into Nigeria since 2020.

He attributed this to the extensive borderline of about 4,470 kilometers between Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

He also noted that the nation’s maritime domain that extended over 853 kilometers of coastline and of the Gulf of Guinea had also not helped.

The commandant said that the 2021 survey by the NCCSALW revealed that over six million illegal weapons were in circulation in the country.

Oludude said that out of the figure, about 70 per cent were in the hands of non-states actors.

”The impact of this illicit arms proliferation is profound and multifaceted.

”These weapons bred various forms of insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and armed robbery.

“Inter-agency collaboration is needed to tackle the proliferation of illicit arms and weapons,” he said.

Oludude said that no single agency, no matter how well-resourced, no matter how well-dedicated, could effectively tackle the complex challenge alone.

He stated that the nature of the recent arms proliferation demanded a joint and multi-agency approach.

“Therefore, this seminar provides a vital platform for us to collectively examine the complexities of this complex challenge,” he said.

Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Kennedy Ezete, urged the participants to translate the discussions and recommendations of the seminar into concrete actions.

He advised the participants to take the knowledge and insights gained to their respective agencies and organisations and implement them

According to him, “we must ensure that the suggestions and way forward developed here are implemented effectively and that the partnerships forged are sustained.

”This requires a commitment from all stakeholders, including the leadership of our security agencies and the wider community.

”Share your experiences, implement the strategies that have been suggested, and continue to work collaboratively to counter illicit arms proliferation.

“We must also continue to invest in training, technology, and intelligence gathering to enhance our capabilities.”