1ST MAY, 2023

PRESS RELEASE
NUPENG SOLIDARITY MESSAGE ON THE OCCASSION OF INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY- (MAY DAY 2023)

On behalf of the President and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), I seize this opportunity to celebrate and appreciate all our members on this auspicious occasion commemorating the International Workers Day (May Day 2023).

May 1st of every year is a special day to remember the long history of the contributions and efforts of men and women who have continuously toiled day and night for humanity but have also continued to engage in unending struggles to earn fair returns for their efforts and sweats.
It’s a day set to renew and rekindle hope in the minds and consciousness of the working men and women that their struggles shall never be in vain as victory is assured at the end.

It is imperative today being so special to the working people to draw further attention to the plight of Nigeria Oil and Gas Workers so that concerned authorities and the general public can take appropriate actions for amelioration. Blue- collar workers in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Sector have continued to lament yet still exercise restrain over the increasing degeneration, indecency and precariousness of employment and working conditions in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry. It is becoming increasingly clear that the geese that is laying the golden eggs is being exploited, unappreciated and its existence threatened. We wish to assure our members that as long as our Solidarity remains constant, we shall continue to grow stronger.

On the issue of the removal of Subsidy on PMS, our position remains same as ever as we shall continue to call on the Government as we have always done in all our presentations to ensure that our local refineries are put into full operation before an important policy such as the removal of subsidy on PMS can be taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians. The Union is also using this auspicious day to condemn in totality the anti- Union behavior and employment tactics of some unscrupulous indigenous and multi-national employers who have unfortunately turned the Nigeria Local Content Law into ambits of slavery and precarious employment rather than a source of fulfilling employment and empowerment for teeming qualified young Nigerians.

The leadership of the Union is also using this special day to commend the patriotic efforts of Petroleum Tanker Drivers who even in the face of unfavorable and harsh conditions of work including the parlors state of our highways and intimidation and harassment from some unscrupulous Security Forces are still working hard to ensure that factories and other businesses are kept running and homes are kept comfortable for Nigerians. However, the Union will no longer condone unwarranted attacks, intimidation and burning of their Petroleum Trucks while on genuine and legal haulage of Petroleum products by some barbaric security agents most especially among the Nigeria Army Anti-Bunkering Task Force operating in the South-South region of the country, henceforth we will start to resist this because we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our members lose their sources of livelihood in the hands of those armed men.

To our disciplined, hardworking, and resilient members, the leadership of our great Union remains proud of your commitment and steadfastness to nation building despite all the challenges in the Oil and Gas Industry over the past one year.

This is wishing all our members a blissful International Workers Day – May 1st, 2023.
The Struggle continues, for victory is certain!
Our Solidarity remains Constant, for the Union makes us Strong!!!

FOR: NIGERIA UNION OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS WORKERS

COMRADE WILLIAMS AKPOREHA                                  COMRADE OLAWALE AFOLABI

       NUPENG President                                                               General Secretary