Revealed: Why oil workers rejected President Buhari’s new order
– Dr Kachikwu assures workers of a ‘no job loss’ situation
– Oil workers insist on getting clarifications on the new directive
– Strike may continue beyond Wednesday
Nigerian oil workers have revealed why they are unhappy with President Muhammadu Buhari over the new order to split the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into seven smaller units.
There had been reports earlier today that oil workers shut down NNPC offices nationwide following President Buhari’s new order which they believe will affect their status.
They have now vowed to continue their strike action until there are clarifications regarding Tuesday’s unbundling of the NNPC.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on hearing about the new development announced by Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for Petroleum Resources, started mobilising their members to reject the policy.
All NNPC offices and locations across the country were shut down at the resumption of work on Wednesday, as the workers’ unions halted all normal operations.
Lumumba Okugbawa, the acting general secretary of PENGASSAN, told Premium Times on Wednesday in Abuja, that the workers would not call off the protest until the minister agrees to invite the workers to discuss with him what the restructuring was all about.
“We do not accept any unilateral and arbitrary restructuring. The minister cannot restructure NNPC without carrying all stakeholders along. The minister cannot run the industry as a private estate. He must carry all Nigerians along.
“With such a massive decision-making, a lot of things would be affected, particularly its implication on workers interest. We are unaware of what is happening. It is not fair that the workers are hearing about the restructuring in the media just like every other person. He is just creating unnecessary confusion in the polity.
“Mr. Okugbawa said the minister could not restructure the NNPC when he was yet to take necessary legal steps to facilitate the process.
“If the minister says he wants to restructure NNPC, has he repealed or amended the NNPC Act of 1977? What happens to the PIB (Petroleum Industry Bill), which has NNPC restructuring as one of its key objectives? Has it been jettisoned, or is there a new PIB? These are fundamental questions that the minister has to answer,” he explained.
Dr Kachikwu’s explanation on Tuesday that the oil workers had nothing to fear as the exercise has a zero sum in terms of job loss, they remain disturbed and demanded a call for meeting with the board.
Mixed reactions have since trailed the federal government’s to split the NNPC and some have taken to social media to share their opinion.
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