Why NUPENG & PENGASSAN must stop terrorising Nigerians (19459000)
By Kunle Ayo
The recent actions of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria in the oil and natural gas sector show a desperate effort by some actors to exploit Nigerians’ sensibilities. They perpetuate lawlessness, economic destruction, and threaten national security to the detriment of the majority.
NUPENG, PENGASSAN and other unions, who have been complicit for decades in the degenerate and deliberate degradation of the oil-and-gas sector, are an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians. They’ve acted out of their own self interest. They have caused untold suffering to ordinary Nigerians for decades through neglect, collaboration, and complicity with state enemies. It is hypocritical to portray these unions as champions of worker’s rights when their actions contributed to millions of people suffering.
NUPENG’s and PENGASSAN’s recent strike decision is in line with the persistent attack on Nigeria’s foundational economy that President Tinubu’s administration has been working to revitalize. The calculated action is designed to bring the country back to its dark past of fuel shortages, economic instability and embarrassment. It was orchestrated by Nigerians with foreign collaborators. NUPENG, PENGASSAN are willing participants.
It would be an understatement to say that their actions are detrimental to Nigeria’s economic and social progress. Their strikes led to the shutting down of thermal power stations, which has had a negative impact on the social services. The strike has a crippling effect on economic and social activity, putting millions of small businesses and households at a disadvantage.
NUPENG and PENGASSAN are not hiding their selfish intentions. They prioritize a culture based on impunity, primitive accumulation of wealth, monopoly and destructive behaviour over patriotism.
They consistently put their own personal interests above those of Nigerians, threatening the country’s independence and growth.
NUPENG, PENGASSAN and other unions have imposed undue hardships on Nigerians under the pretext of workers’ rights and unionism, while rejecting constructive dialogue platforms. They are mischievous and selfish and have no genuine concern. Instead, they choose self-help strategies that cause untold pain to residents and citizens.
NUPENG and PENGASSAN have rebuffed the federal government’s attempts to help resolve these disputes peacefully. Instead, they intensified their efforts to create economic instability. They have been blinded by their own self-interest and failed to understand the wider implications of their action.
Nigerians will not fall for the deceptive methods of their unions. It is fraud for the unions to try and sell a false story about Dangote Refinery mass layoffs. This is reflective of their own deceit. They failed in their attempts to deceive Nigerians. They are misled by their corrupt motivations and remain insensitive towards the suffering that has been caused for decades by those who profit from oil subsidies.
NUPENG-PENGASSAN have been silent for years during crises of fuel shortages. They ignored the suffering of Nigerians in the richest nation of oil producers. They now say they are championing workers’ rights, even though fuel prices have stabilized, forex is stable, naira has strengthened against the dollar and inflation has declined. Then, they suddenly blame the workers when there is ample fuel, Governors are able to pay their salaries and pensions and Nigeria’s petroleum upstream sector thrives with viable competition, which attracts foreign investment because of economic stability.
How could any labour union that is concerned about the well-being of their members, and with the economic health of the country, keep silent while a massive fraud has been committed by citizens working in conjunction with foreigners? Union officials have laundered billions of dollars worth of Nigerian money under false pretenses, while the fuel subsidy scam, which was orchestrated by a corrupt Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, has done immense damage.
NUPENG & PENGASSAN claim they are fighting for the rights of workers, but their narrative is fabricated.
NUPENG, PENGASSAN and other employers should know the labor laws in place and how they are applied. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, or ASUU for short, does not force staff at private universities like GUO and God is Good Motors into unionizing. Neither does the National Union of Road Transport Workers, also known as NURTW.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers does not require teachers to join the NUT. The right to join a union is a private one, and not something that must be done. NUPENG or PENGASSAN have gone on strike how many times to deal with the Nigerian refineries’ failure despite spending billions, or end the fuel subsidies scam?
NUPENG or PENGASSAN do not have the right to intervene in internal corporate affairs of Dangote refinery, nor any other company. They are viewed as terrorists and seditionists because of their consistent role in sabotaging national progress. They have made a mockery out of themselves in their foolish attempts to please their masters.
What justice is served by halting the crude oil and natural gas supply if it means workers will be laid off?
Self-help or blackmail can help affected employees, but is it also beneficial to ordinary Nigerians? To resolve conflicts, dialogue and legal channels are better than reckless action. The processes that NUPENG, PENGASSAN, and others oppose have, ironically, been the ones which brought relief and hope to those who were suffering. The processes NUPENG and PENGASSAN oppose have brought relief, alleviated suffering, and restored hope.
Honor. Dr. Philip Agbese is the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. He correctly declared that this attack against Dangote Refinery was an assault on the national economy and security of Nigeria. NUPENG and PENGASSAN should stop acting like saboteurs who want to slow down Nigeria’s development. The times are changing and the new accountability era has started.
Dangote Refinery is here to stay. It has a transformative effect on Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, which drives Nigeria’s progress and economic independence. Nigerians are united and resolute in their support for this important enterprise. They reject the sabotage by self-serving individuals posing themselves as unionists. Dangote Refinery, with the support of Nigerians, will triumph over these economic enemies, and secure a prosperous future.
Ayo writes to us from Lagos
