Oil Workers Threaten Strike Over Alleged Army Brutality

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratia  to urgently redeploy soldiers unlawfully being used to brutalize workers in two oil firms in Delta State under 24 hours or  risk a nationwide industrial action.

NUPENG said the use of military personnel and armed militias to forcefully eject workers from the premises by a firm, Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO) and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Limited (BOGEL) over issue of unionization is an aberration and dehumanization of the workers.

Its National President, Comr. Williams Akporeha, who spoke to reporters in Lagos, yesterday said the firms involved have sacked over 2,500 workers who asked for their legitimate right to belong to an association.

Akporeha said the use of military personnel to distribute forms to the workers not to belong to any association is strange and wondered why soldiers should allow themselves to be used as weapon of brutality against defenseless workers demanding for their constitutional rights.

He said despite calls on the relevant stakeholders to help address the issue before it escalates were frustrated by SEEPCO and BOGEL.

“Workers in Delta State have started industrial action at the moment and if nothing is done by the military honchos to talk to their boys doing illegal duty; we will have no option but to peacefully toe the line of national industrial action in solidarity to the plight of the affected workers,” he said.

He also called for the immediate intervention of the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Inspector General of Police, and the Acting Director-General, Department of State Security Services (DSSS) and other relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas industry on the matter.

He said it was the resolve of the union to always work with all employers of labour in the oil and gas industry with the primary aim of entrenching and sustaining industrial peace and harmony in the overall interest of the country. He said NUPENG would continue to stand firm in protecting the interest of its members particularly when their rights are being violated.

Akphoreha said: “For the record, five drilling oil rigs being operated by SEEPCO and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Limited in Kwale, Warri area of Delta State, have been in operation for several years now, with continued refusal by the management of these drilling companies to allow workers to join the union.

“Workers of these drilling rigs have overtly indicated their willingness and readiness to join the union of their choice and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has responded appropriately to the request of these workers with several requests for union recognition from the management.

“Unfortunately, rather that following path of decency and global best practices, the management of SEEPCO and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Limited have resulted to high handedness and violence through the use of military men and armed militias to forcefully evacuate over 2500 workers from the five drilling rigs.

“These companies are Indian operated companies and NUPENG found it grossly unfortunate and unacceptable that these companies would be using brute force to dehumanize, terrorize, and victimize Nigerians in their own country.

“To avoid further escalation of this current unhealthy situation and considering the collateral damage it might cause the nation, NUPENG is earnestly asking all the aforementioned stakeholders to call the management of these companies to order and direct them to follow path of decency and best practices by granting the legitimate wishes of the workers to freely associate and be unionized without any further encumbrance or limitations.”