Oil & Energy
Power Firms Withdraw Workers’ ID Cards
As the six-month service
contracts signed between power generating (GENCOs) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) with their inherited staff from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) expired last week, some of the companies have sacked workers whose performances did not meet expected standards.
The Tide investigation indicates that most of the power firms have withdrawn the identification cards of the affected staff which signified that their services have been withdrawn.
This development which had for the past two months been the biggest fear of the inherited PHCN workers has become real, after all.
The Tide gathered that the sack of these workers has elicited divergent reactions from those directly affected, resulting also in series of meetings by electricity unions as they view the development as being inimical to the welfare of their members.
At Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (ENEDC), the comprehensive list of affected staff had been made public, while in Owerri Business Unit, the inaction of management of the firm is creating serious suspense on the staff as they wait helplessly for their fate which now hangs in the balance.
However, at the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), authorities of the firm have clearly announced an extention of the contract by one month, meaning that the contract now expires at the end of this month (May).
In an exclusive interview with The Tide, the Assistant General Manager Public Affairs of PHEDC, Mr Obi Onuwah , said no staff’s identification card had been withdrawn as the company has graciously extended service contract by one month.
“So far, no identification card of any of our workers has been withdrawn. What the company had rather done was to extend the six-month service contract of staff by one month, which now means that the contract will terminate by May,” Onuwah said.
Similarly, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has also announced an extention of its workers’ service contract by two months, meaning that the doom’s day begins by the end of June 2014.
The Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs of KEDCO, Alhaji Mukhtar Usman, said the company had also engaged a consultant to process the recruitment of new staff of all cadres within the two month’s grace.
“Management had extended staff stay instead of laying them off by the end of this month in accordance with the agreement signed while taking over in November last year,” Usman said.
According to him, the extention was to allow for a smooth transition in management, as he also promised that a transparent procedure was being adopted to bring new staff on board.
“Some of the staff wishing to continue working with KEDCO has also indicated interest through the consultants engaged to conduct recruitment”, he said.
One of the labour union leaders authoritatively told our correspondent that about 60 per cent of the GENCOS and DISCOs in the country have called for withdrawal of affected staff ID card, 20 per cent has not taken action so far, while 20 per cent had decided to extended the contract as a ploy to study the reactions of the workers union to the emerging scenario.
Chris Oluoh
Mixture of Oil and Gas discharging into the environment at Ikarama Oil Fields operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Yenagoa lga, Bayelsa, recently. Photo: NAN
Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor