BEVERLY HILLS, NOVEMBER 21, (thewill) – The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, says it is determined to adopt all necessary steps to ensure that there was no increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol, during and after the yuletide.
Stating that it was unaware of any plot by the NNPC to increase fuel price, NUPENG however said the timing for such increase was wrong in view of the current recession being experienced in the country, acknowledging that none of the promised palliatives made by the Federal Government during the last fuel increase in May has been fulfilled.
The National President of NUPENG, Comrade (Dr.) Igwe Achese, who made this statement, added that the union will resist any attempt to sell or scrap the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, by Federal Government, wondering why rumours and media reports about the scrapping of NNPC have refused to go away.
He spoke on Sunday while fielding questions from reporters at the memorial thanksgiving service of his late mother, Mrs. TamunoIbuomi Levi Bereiweriso, at St. James (Anglican) Church, Ogoloma, Okrika, Rivers state.
According to him, “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.”
Achese further condemned the sack of workers in the oil and gas industry, asserting that the Federal Government should do more in regulating the activities of multinational oil companies, which are the ones laying off workers.
“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,” he said.
The NUPENG leader, who condemned the factionalisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, at a time when Nigerians need a united labour union, said, “today, Nigerians as suffering. One would ask: what is the task of the NLC? The factionalisation of the NLC is not a good thing”.
