Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal Government to fast-track the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, saying that it is improper that the Federal Government kept postponing the opening.
Speaking at the special delegates conference of the Petroleum Tanker Driver (PTD) of NUPENG in Lagos during the week, the National President, NUPENG, Comrade William Akporeha, said the union was awaiting the inauguration, saying that the government has assured them that it would commence operation by the end of the month.
Akporeha also called on the government to ensure that bad roads were fixed across the nation. According to him, this would ensure the smooth distribution of the petroleum products.
“We are eagerly awaiting the Port Harcourt Refinery to come on stream.We wish to call on the government to ensure that the old Port Harcourt Refinery starts production by the end of July as promised.
Akporeha also said the union was happy with the outcome of its election, adding that this is what NUPENG is known for.
He urged the new officers to be dedicated to the union.
“There is no faction in PTD, all of us are one. We are one with NUPENG. NUPENG has shown to the world that NUPENG and PTD are one. There is no division,” he said.
At the end of the election, Comrade Augustine Egbon emerged as national chairman of the junior workers’ union in the downstream oil sector.
His opponent Lucky Osesua did not take part in the election.
Egbon thanked stakeholders for ensuring a smooth election. He restated his stance that the PTD would not sever its relationship with its umbrella body, while also offering an olive branch to its aggrieved members.
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He said: “I give thanks to God Almighty for making this election possible for us again. I thank the security personnel for ensuring adequate security. I thank our leaders in NUPENG, who did all that was necessary to guarantee a smooth election.
Chairman, Electoral Committee, Comrade Solomon Kilanko declared that the process was in line with the judgment of the National Industrial Court(NIC), Abuja.
He said: “The judgment also demands that the election should be all inclusive and non-discriminatory.
“To this end, the electoral Committee notified members that no one is barred from participating and, in addition, the list of delegates that are eligible is still the same list that was used for the October 31, 2023 election in Ibadan to ensure that those suspended after the election are allowed to participate.”
Comrade Oluchi Chinagorom from the Port Harcourt zone will serve as National Secretary while comrades Lawan Garba, Mathias Ote, Dauda Olabisi and Olaolu Akinmuyise, are National Vice Chairman, Kaduna, Warri, Lagos and Port Harcourt zones of the PTD-NUPENG.
The duo of comrades Malut Abubakar and Odinakachi Nwafor emerged as First Deputy National Chairman and Second Deputy National Chairman.
Justice O. Y. Anuwe of the NIC in Abuja, had on May 29, this year, annulled the previous election held in Ibadan, last October.
Justice Anuwe had ordered that NUPENG should set up an Electoral Committee to organise a new national delegates’ conference within four months.
The judge also instructed that the NUPENG Constitution and the PTD by-laws be followed in conducting the new election.
The Registrar, Trade Union of Nigeria (TUN), Mr Amos Falonipe and Mr. Segun Arowolo from the Legal Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment monitored the election where 16 national officers emerged.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
