By Emmanuel Ajibulu

The National leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has formally inaugurated a new Executive Council for Engine Lubricant Dealers (ELD) Branch of the Union on Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 with Comrade Gabriel James Omo-Oba as the National Chairman.

The inauguration ceremony which started around 2:10pm was coordinated by NUPENG Principal Organizing Secretary, Comrade Lanre Aiyedun, while Principal Assistant General Secretary on Research and Public Affairs, Comrade Adamson Momoh administered the oath of office on the new branch executives at the National Secretariat of the Union at Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos.

In his opening remarks, the General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Afolabi Olawale congratulated the new executive members and urged them to promote the policy thrust of NUPENG, while also admonishing them to be diligent, transparent and to place the interest of the Union above all other interests. He also encouraged them to see to the expansion and increase in the numerical strength of ELD across Nigeria.

‘’I congratulate all of you for coming out victorious in your last election which was adjudged to be peaceful, free and fair, transparent and credible. But the leadership is not particularly happy with your branch; you have not lifted the branch beyond the same elementary level it was, many years ago. The ball is now in your court to prove yourselves as new breed of leadership that can make a difference and as well add value.’’

Comrade Afolabi continues, ‘‘Let me also let you know that no Branch Executive would be allowed to hold more than one position in the branch. Such individuals with dual or multiple positions would have to relinquish one for another. It’s high time we reorganized this branch and the responsibility lies in the hands of every one of you. Note also that you need to step up your revenue base, you must move beyond paying cheque-off-dues of N30,000 on a monthly basis, you must increase it to N150,000 henceforth and I can assure you that it is doable, its not an uphill task at all.’’

Let me also bring to your notice that the leadership of NUPENG is unrepentant in providing adequate and quality service to members through the introduction of fool-proof biometric identity card for the informal sector of our Union so that we can have robust data base and as well bring discipline and proper coordination to the Union membership. This branch is expected to set up a Committee that will appoint zonal coordinators to drive this process so that members can be properly registered and captured adequately. The registration form is N5,000, the secretariat can guide you about the procedures.’’ The General Secretary stated.

While delivering his own remarks, the National President of NUPENG, Comrade (Prince) Williams Akporeha who earlier offered the floor to the General Secretary to speak to the branch Executive Council led the members in a solidarity song and ended it by extolling the virtues of the General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale for speaking to the real issues affecting the ELD branch and for also suing for paradigm shift.

‘’Today, it is my great pleasure to be in your midst to witness this auspicious ceremony and I have no doubt that this new breed of leaders will do the entire Union proud. I want to also say here that I completely agree with the GS in all the comments he made earlier about this branch. This is an old branch and sadly it’s still at the bottom of the table this has to stop as soon as possible.’’

The Comrade President added: ‘‘We are making a clarion call to this new executive to move this branch from the bottom of the table and probably to the top of the table within the shortest possible time. Comrades, the mandate and the mantle are all in your hands to move this branch forward. You are now the new Ambassadors and you must raise your heads high and do us proud in your respective leadership capacities in the overall interest of the Union.’’

Other members of the National leadership of NUPENG who were in attendance at the ELD inauguration included the Deputy General Secretary of NUPENG (Admin), Comrade Christopher Akpede and the National Treasurer, Comrade Alex Agwanwor.