Oil workers have commended the plans towards a comprehensive rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries to achieve optimal capacity utilisation in 2017 by the current leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The workers under the Group Executive Councils of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria described the move as a clear departure from the initial position, which the unions always rejected.
They said the unions had been opposed to selling important national assets as scrap, adding that the proposal to adopt a new model that would bring investors to increase productivity without having to lose jobs was commendable.
In a statement signed by the secretaries of the two in-house unions, Mr. Sulaiman Sulaiman of PENGASSAN GEC and Mr. Uche Amara of NUPENG GEC, the workers said they had been following with keen interest the current Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru’s 12-focus area drive towards bringing back the corporation to the path of success.
The unions described the administration and programmes of the GMD as workers-friendly after a careful evaluation of its programmes.
The statement read, “The recent familiarisation tour of all NNPC facilities by the NNPC GMD and the pronouncements made during the visits are clear demonstrations of the management’s resolve to carry along all stakeholders, especially the unions at all levels.
“The GMD’s recent management promotions and redeployment have created avenue for systemic growth, which have been the yearnings of workers and unions. The unions are highly delighted that for the first time in several years, merit was considered and priority was given to qualified workers within the corporation.”
The unions said they were delighted with the GMD’s welfare programme, designed to address several issues, including wages and retirement benefits.
“We believe that this practice, if sustained, will continue to boost workers’ morale and increase productivity. This is highly commendable and the unions are committed to work with the GMD, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, towards any venture that will increase productivity and enhance the welfare of workers,” the union stated.
They also commended the Federal Government under the leadership of the President Muhammadu Buhari for providing ‘focused and purposeful leadership.’
