The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has condemned moves by the Federal Government to split the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), into 30 companies without following due process.

Both have called the move, an effort to offend Oil and Gas workers and cause industrial crisis in the country.

 “We condemn the unilateral action of the Minister of State, Ibe Kachikwu, as the decision is not in consonance with the laws establishing the NNPC. The unbundling and rebranding of NNPC as announced is another public policy change which is not consistent with the Act and Laws establishing NNPC and will be resisted by Oil and Gas workers in the country. NUPENG will not tolerate a situation whereby the unbundled companies will now hide under the cover to start disengaging its workers. Job creation and job security has been the change mantra of the current administration,” Joseph Ogbebor, the Acting General Secretary of NUPENG said.

However, PENGASSAN in a statement by Lumumba Okugbawa, its Acting General Secretary, said that the move is the same as a somersault.

“The Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that is expected to be the legal instrument for the ongoing reforms of the Oil and Gas industry will be meaningless if the Government should introduce plans outside the reforms, The PIB is germane to the development of the nation’s Oil and Gas Industry,” he told Vanguard.

Anita Fatunji