NUPENG To FG: Ensure Refineries Work Before Subsidy Removal
Against the backdrop of the planned removal of subsidy from premium motor spirit (PMS), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned the federal government against going ahead without bringing the local refineries back into operation.
NUPENG, in its resolution at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos recently, expressed concerns over the failure of the federal government to do the needful as repeatedly advised by organized labour that deregulation of the PMS should not be predicated on importation of the product because of all the obvious negative impacts on the socio-economic life of the people and nation in general.
The resolution, jointly signed by the president of the union, Williams Akporeha, and the general secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said the union was disappointment at the failure of government to deliver on its promises of making the three national refineries work before contemplating the removal of subsidy.
The union condemned government’s inability “on this very important economic item in view of the enormous implication and the impact on the economic activities and considering the socio-economic importance of PMS to ordinary Nigerians.”
The union reaffirmed that in as much as it is not averse to the removal of PMS subsidy, the federal government must ensure that the local refineries are put into full operation before such major policy decision is taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.
“It is our firm believe that deregulation that is based on local production will not only increase the revenue base of the country, but it will also generate employment and make life more meaningful to ordinary Nigerians,” the union said.
On the 2023 election, the union equally condemned the inciting and seditious statements of some individuals, who were calling out the military to take over power, or people to take up arms against the inauguration of a new government/installation of an interim government.
“The NEC-in-Council found those statements most irresponsible, reprehensible and very unfortunate,” the resolution read.
NUPENG said, as a trade union organization, it is widely known to have fought and sacrificed the lives of its members and leaders for the restoration of democracy in the country and shall not sit on the fence and watch some undesirable elements drag the nation back to that path of the dark days.
“We will definitely resist all agents of destabilization and put all our resources and might on the table for the growth and development of democracy in our country,” it warned.
The union admitted that without any doubt there are still some irregularities in the conducts of the election but opined that rather than fanning embers of division and disillusionment amongst Nigerians, patriotic Nigerians should rise in unison to galvanize the citizenry to mend broken relationships and heal whatever wounds might have been inflicted on one another and collectively strive towards improving the nation’s electoral processes.
It also charged that anyone that has displeasure with the conduct of the election should make use of the electoral laws of the country to seek redress rather than heating up the polity and polarizing the country.
“All aggrieved individuals and parties should do what is expected of any decent and law abiding democrat, which is to concede defeat, congratulate the winner or go to tribunal to seek redress,” the union stated.
