Energy

Strike continues, says NUPENG over Dangote Labour Dispute

By Web News 410

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on Tuesday vowed to continue its nationwide strike after the collapse of the conciliation meeting organised by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, to settle the crisis between the union and the Dangote refinery on Monday.

The meeting ended in a stalemate as both parties disagreed on the unionisation of tanker drivers at the Dangote refinery.

NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, who spoke on Arise News Television on Tuesday, said the union had no choice but to press on with industrial action after Dangote’s management rejected recognised oil and gas unions and allegedly claimed to have a separate association for its workers.

Akporeha stated that the representative of the Dangote refinery, Sayyu Dantata, walked out of the meeting.

“The strike is still on. We started yesterday. As it is, we are still open to dialogue. Discussions are also going on. But the strike is still on. We started the strike yesterday. Now, we have been told that we should slow down on the strike.

“We thought that yesterday’s meeting would just be a one-day affair, and we’d all go back. But what we saw yesterday should tell Nigerians that we are in for a dictator investor, and we must stand up against that. So, the strike continues anyway. But I’m hopeful that a good reason will prevail and the issue will be resolved as quickly as possible,” he said.

The labour leader alleged that the Dangote refinery created an alternative drivers’ association to weaken NUPENG, describing the move as illegal.

He insisted that the law only recognises existing unions such as NUPENG, PENGASSAN and others in the oil and gas sector.

While clarifying that strike action was a legitimate industrial tool, Akporeha stressed that dialogue remained open.

“Strikes are part of industrial relations. But under my leadership, it has never been the first option. We are still engaging, but no employer has the right to enslave workers,” he said.

He dismissed allegations that NUPENG was attempting to sabotage the refinery or frustrate local production.

“Everybody wants Dangote to succeed, including NUPENG. But he must play by the rules. Nigeria cannot afford investors who act like dictators or slave drivers,” he said.

Akporeha urged Nigerians to support the union’s stance, describing the struggle as a fight to protect workers’ dignity and secure democratic workplaces.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Human Angle

Ex-NUPENG Gen Secretary, Frank Kokori Dies at 80

By Web News 400

The ex-General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori is dead.

Chief Frank Kokori breathed his last at a kidney treatment hospital in Warri, Delta State, in the early hours of today, Thursday.

One of his aides, who confirmed the painful development to Vanguard, said he would want the family to formally break the news to the media.

“He passed on this night. I would want the family to break the news formally to the media.

“I am his aide but at this moment I am not to speak on this until the family issues a statement,” he said.

Vanguard learned that Kokori’s health relapsed on Monday, and the veteran labour leader was placed on life support.

Recall that Frank Ovie Kokori made a distress call over his failing health status last month.

He lamented that in spite of his key role in the growth of the nation’s democracy, he had been abandoned.

When Vanguard visited him at the hospital last month, he said: “I came to this hospital when I was told there is a place like this in Warri.

“They have been doing their best. In the midnight, they put their generator off. But I begged them to run it that I will pay their bills.

“I came on Tuesday. After the dialysis, I have been here. I could have just died because of the lack of diesel. So I had to beg them to run their generator so the air conditioner, AC, in the ward could function. I need it to be alive.

“It got to a stage that I could not take a flight, I could not walk. If it was when I was in NUPENG, I would have been flown out by air ambulance immediately.”

Frank Kokori the activist

When the Military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 13, 1993 presidential election, Kokori was involved in mobilising the masses against the government.

He led NUPENG and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, in organising nationwide strikes that crippled the oil industry.

Also, Frank Kokori was actively involved in pro-democracy activities, organising and participating in rallies and demonstrations.

He told Vanguard: “If I wanted to compromise, the military (junta of late General Sani Abacha) was ready to give me anything but I stood for democracy,  believing that democracy will usher in a better Nigeria.

“The refineries were working before I retired from NUPENG.

“I  became the tribune of the country, heading the freedom fighters. Some of us were underground, disguised for 10 weeks fighting the military. 

The military sent a presidential jet to pick me to compromise, but I refused.”

Biography

Kokori was an active member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, before his passage at the ripe age of 80, precisely on his birthday.

A brief account of him says he was born on December 7, 1944. He attended Urhobo College in Warri between 1959 and 62.

He proceeded to Eko Boys High School, Lagos. Frank Kokori attended the University of Ibadan, among others.

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Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Economy

Reject POS Transactions and face sanctions -Ekiti Govt

By Web News 513

The Ekiti State Government has threatened to sanction filling stations that reject Point-of-Sale, POS, transactions owing to the current cash scarcity in the country.

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Omotayo Adeola, gave the warning at a meeting with the State Petroleum Task Force Committee and representatives of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti.

Adeola said the decision had become imperative in order to alleviate the hardship people had been experiencing as a result of the current cash crunch in the country.

She implored residents to lodge their complaints against errant filling station operators via WhatsApp number  08077772323.

“Residents could make a video call through the above number to report such erring operators for prompt action by the State Petroleum Task Force,” she said.

In separate interviews after the meeting, the Chairman, Ekiti State Petroleum Task Force Committee, Mr Ayodeji Adesokan and the NUPENG Chairman, Mr Olumide Jegede, appealed to petroleum marketers to comply with the directive.

They warned that erring petroleum stations would be sanctioned by the government.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Energy

Proactive intelligence vital in combating adulterated fuel sale – NSCDC

By Web News 569

The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC says proactive intelligence is needed in the fight against the distribution of adulterated fuel

A statement by the Corps spokesperson Mrs Olabisi Atanda reveals that the Osun State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Agboola Sunday stated this when he hosted the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG in Osogbo.

Mr Sunday noted that the distribution of adulterated fuel was a deliberate attempt to endanger public security, sabotage the economy and the well-being of the people.

He solicited the support of fuel transporters in the area of information to arrest those engaging in adulteration of fuel and those distributing them.

In his response, the Acting Chairman NUPENG, Osun State Chapter, Comrade Festus Omotosho Ishola, commended the gallantry of the Corps in the fight against vandalism. 

He lauded the Corps’ cooperation and strong relationship with the association. 

Comrade Omotosho reiterated that NUPENG would continue working with the NSCDC in the fight against economic sabotage.

Adenitan Akinola

Yoruba

Ẹgbẹ́ Elépo Rọ̀bì Àtafẹ́fẹ́ Gáasi Gbé Ìkìlọ̀ Kalẹ̀ Láti Máà Yọwọ Ìrànwọ́ Kúrò Lórí Epo

By Web News 833

Ẹgbẹ́ àwọn elépo rọ̀bì àtafẹ́fk gáasi nílẹ̀ yíì, NUPENG, sọpé àmọ̀ràn ìgbìmọ̀ olùgbaniníyàjú lórí ètò ọrọ ajé tilé sẹ́ àarẹ, gbékalẹ̀ láti ìjáwọ́ ìrànwọ́ orí epo pẹtirol niwọ́n ni yóò kan tún pakún ìsòro tílẹ̀ Nàijírìa ńkojú.

Nígbà tó ń sọ̀rọ̀ lórí ìgbésẹ̀ náà, akọ̀wé àgbà àjọ NUPENG, ọ̀gbẹ́ni Olawale Alabi sọ fáwọn oníròyìn pé sísàmúlò àmọ̀ràn tígbìmọ̀ olù gbékalẹ̀ yóò kan tún mú kín kan nira fáwọn aráàlu, pẹ̀lú ipò tétò ọrọ ajé ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa wa lọ́wọ́lọ́wọ́ báyíì.

Ọgbẹni Afọlabi kò sài tọ́kasi pé ẹgbẹ́ náà ti tẹnumọ sáàjú fún ìjọba àpapọ̀ pé, kò gbọdọ̀ jẹ́ ori gbigbe epo wọlé náà, niwọ́n yóò ti yọwọ́ ìrànwọ̀ orí epo níkíkún .

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ló sun yíyọwọ́ ìrànwọ́ náà lẹ́ka epo rọ̀bì kò bójúmu tó nítirípé, ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa kò gbọ gbérúfẹ́ ìgbésẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀ lákokò tíwọ́n ń kó epo wọlé sílẹ̀ yíì.

Omolola Alamu/Folakemi Wojuade

News Analysis

Incessant Labour Unrest and It’s Implications.

By Web News 880

A harmonious, peaceful and orderly work place is essential and needed to guarantee satisfaction of employees and employers’ for enhanced productivity.

However, whenever there is conflict in the interest of parties, industrial unrest and crisis becomes inevitable and unavoidable. 

Research has shown that disharmony between workers and their employers’ often centre on poor remuneration, inadequate welfare, non payment of salaries and allowances as and when due.

Other factors for industrial actions are unconducive working environment, delay in promotion and breach of contractual agreement. 

Recently, Nigeria was plugged into a season of industrial action, especially in health, education, oil and gas as well as the civil service. 

This harvest of strikes include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COAESU, Joint Health Staff Union, JOHESU, NARD, NUPENG and PENGASSAN. 

A national  strike planned for last month was averted at the last minute by the federal government.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC had threatened to lead Nigeria workers on an indefinite strike due to electricity tariffs increase and fuel price hike that worsened living condition in the country.

While industrial action is the statutory right of workers to press home their demands, the result of such unfortunate happening is socio economic paralysis in the various sectors of national life. 

Incessant strikes often lead to brain drain which is why there is exodus of the country’s trained personnel and professionals to other countries of the world in search of greener pasture.

In moving forward, there is the need to ensure industrial harmony between government at all levels and in the private sector to minimize the adverse effects of labour unrest on the socio economic life of the citizenry.

Government should fast track and implement policies that can reduce inflation and ameliorate the poor living condition of the people and help to decrease the level of employer and employee frictions in the country.

Dialogue should be encouraged at all time while government should not wait for workers to embark on strike before meeting their legitimate demands. 

Since it is evident that industrial welfare is an ill wind that blows no one any good, ensuring a sound and harmonious workplace relation is essential not only to the workers but the entire society.

Tayo Sanni