From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has vowed to resist any attempt to sell or scrap the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by Federal Government.
It has also declared its intention to adopt all necessary steps to ensure that there was no fuel hike in the country, during and after the yuletide.
National President of NUPENG, Comrade (Dr.) Igwe Achese, stated this yesterday, while fielding questions from journalists at the memorial thanksgiving service of his late mother, Mrs. TamunoIbuomi Levi Bereiweriso, at St. James (Anglican) Church, Ogoloma, Okrika, Rivers State.
Achese noted that there were rumours and media reports about the scrapping of NNPC, wondering why the rumour kept coming up warning that if the Federal Government takes such step, NUPENG would oppose it.
He, however, said that NUPENG was not aware of any plot by the NNPC to increase fuel price, pointing out that the timing for such increase was wrong, considering the current recession being experienced in the country.
The NUPENG boss pointed out that none of the promises as palliatives, made by the Federal Government during the last fuel increase in May, has been fulfilled.
He said: “I have heard the news of plots to scrap the NNPC. It’s a speculation that has been on for sometime. But, for us as a union, we are definitely going to resist it. The NNPC is not going to be scrapped.
“They said they needed money for Turn Around Maintenance (TAM). They said they want to repair the refineries. But, as we speak, the refineries in the country are not working.
“It’s sad! I am a member of the palliative committee. and till date, nothing has happened. So, my answer to any increase is no. We won’t allow that to happen.”
The NUPENG national president further condemned the sack of workers in the oil and gas industry, stressing that the Federal Government should do more in regulating the activities of multinational oil companies, which are the ones laying off workers.
He said: “We feel that the Federal Government should regulate the multinational companies like Shell. We feel the sack should stop. The government should put in place measures to create stability”.
Achese condemned the factionalisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at a time of recession when Nigerians need a united labour union.
“Today, Nigerians as suffering. One would ask: what is the task of the NLC? The factionalisation of the NLC is not a good thing,” he said.