There is imminent fuel crisis in the country as oil workers in the nation’s economy have threatened to shut down all oil and gas installations and the entire downstream operations should government go ahead to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in its current state without taking into consideration the concerns of workers.
This warning was given last week by the leadership of the two oil unions in the country- the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and its sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The two labour groups have warned Nigerians that there could be another round of fuel scarcity and disruption in oil production and export..
In a statement jointly signed by president and secretary of both unions, they expressed dismay over the plan by lawmakers to pass the petroleum industry bill after appeals and demands were made by labour to various stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, drawing their attention to some key labour issues as it relates to human capital empowerment and qualitative employment policy.
Justifying its stand the union explained that the planned strike action is in resistance of the inimical legislative process which the unions alleged is aimed at spelling doom for the industry and the nation.
According to the unions, the grey arrears which are of utmost concern to labour were not adequately addressed to in the bill, adding that this has undermined the whole essence of Nigeria Content Development Act 2010.
Part of the document reads that “Both Unions are using this medium to inform the general public that several appeals and demands were made as organised labour in the Oil Sector to the Joint Committee on Petroleum, the Inter-Governmental Committee, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Petroleum and Labour Ministers, and ultimately followed by our Save our Soul letter to Mr. President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, drawing their attention of these institutions and authorities to the grey areas of utmost concern and interest to Labour and which in all ramifications serve to undermine the whole essence of Nigeria Content Development Act 2010 and other policy matters relating to local human capital empowerment, entrenchment of qualitative employment policy with career prospects, move to check the growing phenomenon of Casualisation and outsourcing
trend in the Sectors, and the exploration of potential capability of the Sector to significantly enhance job creation opportunity and Gross Domestic Product for the economy”.
The unions lamented that the bill was drafted to essentially favour the interest of the International Oil Corporations (IOCs) against the quests and yearnings of Nigerians for the optimisation of hydrocarbon resources across the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas activities through conscious and affirmative policy.
The statement further says “Before any harm is done again, we are calling on all Nigerians to rise and join the Oil Workers to say never again shall the Principal Law for our highly strategic and sensitive Petroleum Industry, which is the kindly stream for the survival of Nigerian economy and polity, be passed to our detriment”
“It may interest the Nigerian public to know that while Oil workers, who are the primary operators in the implementation process are consciously excluded in the legislative and review processes, several concessions and compromises have been made at the behest of powers that be, at the dictates of institutions and the privileged, and at the whims and caprices of the barons that can pay the piper. According to reports,” the statement added.
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