Petroleum workers will enjoy greater collaboration with NURPC was to foster appropriate synergy to enable smooth operations
By Eberechi Obinagwam,
Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, has promised to collaborate with the two oil and gas industry unions for industrial harmony and smooth operations of the sector.
Gbenga made this known in a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria NUPENGASSAN to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC in Abuja,
He stated that the objective of the collaboration was to foster appropriate synergy to enable smooth operations in overriding national interest.
He reiterated that since he assumed office, staff welfare has been his cardinal focus and that was the reason he immediately implemented the promotion of staff who had been stagnated over the years was to motivate and promote industrial harmony.
He emphasized that he sets up work teams on the assumption of office with clear terms of reference to address issues of staff welfare like legacy issues which requires redress for the sake of justice and fairness.
He promised that as part and parcel of the union he will continue to promote equity in the affairs of the Commission and in accordance with the Petroleum industry Act (PIA) 2021
Also, the newly appointed CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed recalled the cordial relationship he enjoyed with NUPENGASSAN in the past and urged them to maintain it as well as represent the interest of their members effectively and wisely.
While responding to the president of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo on his concerns about integrating workers into the new entity, he said: ”Our policy here is based on engagement, communication and transparency. We are concerned about the welfare of the workers, every outstanding promotion will be addressed despite some encumbrances and challenges encountered during the merger.”
PENGASSAN president used the visit to express his delight at the appointment of Farouk Ahmed as the CEO of the organization and described it as well deserved following his wealth of experience and achievements in the nation’s oil and gas sector spanning decades.
He assured him of the readiness of PENGASSAN under his watch to collaborate with his administration towards making the industry a pride of place for the benefit of the government, investors and workers.
He commended the CEO for some positive actions he undertook on the assumption of office that has stabilized the operations and working conditions of workers drawn from the proscribed agencies that metamorphosed into the new Authority.
He urged him to address the remaining issues the same “as an Association, what concerns us more is the interest of the workers being integrated into the new entity. Our position is that joint committees should be fully involved and carried along.”
The visiting team reiterated their belief in dialogue as a means to resolve industrial issues and thanked the CCE for the recent promotion of stagnated staff.
The visit which accorded the unions the opportunity of meeting with the heads of the two agencies in the sector was led by the president of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, and NUPENG president, Comrade Williams Akporeha.