PIA implementation should not be carried out at the detriment of workers, NUPENG and PENGASSAN have warned federal government
By Eberechi Obinagwam,
The leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have warned the federal government not to exclude the interest of workers in the Petroleum Industry Act, but rather see to an accountable, all-inclusive and transparent execution and implementation of the act to the letter.
This came as a result of apparent non-engagement and dearth of information from the federal government to its members and other strategic stakeholders in the industry about their fate which have been severally inundated following the commencement of the implementation of key clauses in the PIA and the apparent dispatch the execution is being carried out.
In a joint statement signed by both general secretary’s Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, and Comrade Olawale Afolabi, said: “The concerns of the two unions in the industry for the fate of workers in the transition processes were further heightened profoundly following the glaring omission of our representatives as requested in the PIA Steering Committee which we believed would have helped to ensure that workers interests are adequately protected and treated with equity, fairness, justice and socio – considerations.
“Consequent upon the above, the leadership of the two unions wish to formally alert the public and warn the federal government that we are keenly watching the unfolding situations with deep concerns, and alertness of an endangered group. Be it known and crucially noted that the two unions were at the forefront of the struggles for the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and we will not see it badly executed or be run over by those pretending to possess all monopolies of wisdom and knowledge concerning the execution and implementation of the key clauses of the Act that have direct effects and impacts on the working people in the particular and successful implementation of the PIA in general.”
The two unions further explained that since the assent of the PIA they consistently conveyed their concerns to the government which was further enumerated in a letter sent to all stakeholders.
In correspondence, the unions said that they have communicated the need for the Steering Committee to urgently meet with the leadership committee set up by both Unions with the following terms of reference: “To see to an accountable, – Inclusive and transparent execution and implementation of the PIA to the letter, to engage in regular interface and engagement with the PIA Steering Committee for accurate information on decisions and processes concerning staff welfare, job security and transparency in the transition process of any kind, also to ensure that rights and privileges of workers in the affected institutions are protected and that no Nigerian losses his/her job because of the PIA .”
The unions however added that it is indeed the pleasure of the two unions to see to the successful execution and implementation of the PIA; “we have taken it as our responsibility to ensure a seamless transition process that is accountable, all-inclusive, equitable, fair, just transparent and more importantly, to ensure that the interests of the affected and impacted workers and critical stakeholders are adequately catered for and protected during and after the transition.”