Onshore-Off Shore Dichotomy: Labour cautions against moves

Labour leaders from oil producing States in Nigeria has cautioned that the renewed agitation for the re-introduction of the on-shore off-shore dichotomy portends great danger for the unity of the country describing it as uncalled for and unnecessary diversion. The labour leaders stated their position in a communiqué issue at the end of the Joint Meeting of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Oil Producing States Forum held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The six point resolution signed by the chairmen and secretaries of the NLC and TUC of the oil producing states posited that even the 13% oil derivation was inadequate and should be reviewed upward. The meeting tasked the Federal Government must be courageous enough to review out system of fiscal federalism such that states and local governments would be effectively motivated to grow their economies in their areas of comparative advantage rather than continue to depend on federal allocation.

The labour leaders blamed the poverty level, unemployment and insecurity in the country to many years of misrule and corruption and accordingly urged the Federal Government to demonstrate its determination, capacity and willingness to fight corruption being the bane of security in the country.

NUPENG: Nationwide strike on hold

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers said it had put hold the nationwide strike the union members scheduled to commence on Thursday August 23, 2012. The President of the union, Mr. Achese Igwe, who made the announcement after a meeting with federal government, said the ongoing strike in Abuja would however continue.

The meeting between NUPENG, representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and government, took place in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

 Those present at the meeting included the SGF, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu; Minister State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Mr. Tunji Olaopa; acting President of the NLC, Comrade Promise Adewusi; NLC Deputy President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe Achese; Secretary General, TUC, Comrade John Kolawole; and some representatives of petroleum tank farms.

 At the meeting, the parties agreed that the status quo shall remain until negotiations are concluded. The implication is that fuel scarcity in Abuja would remain unresolved while the union would hold off halting supply of petroleum products to other parts of the country.

NUPENG had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the government refused to pay subsidy claims of marketers. The union had on Thursday last week started an industrial action in the Federal Capital Territory. The strike has led to fuel scarcity in the FCT.

PENGASSAN: PIB must address labor & other issues

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has vowed that it will not support the Petroleum Industrial Bill, PIB unless it addresses labor issues, among others. In a 10-point position paper, the umbrella body for senior workers in the oil and gas industry insisted that transparency and accountability in the petroleum industry must take priority.

Specifically, PENGASSAN  in line with transparency and accountability stance said “PIB must ensure a competitive, non-discretionary licensing and tender processes, publish all licenses, tenders and contracts online,  void confidentiality clauses for oil revenue and payment information, publish quarterly comprehensive production, export and import figures and publish NNPC annual reports and audits online as the case with the multi-nationals.”

There should be community participation through Petroleum Host Communities Fund and clearer definition of community participation and ownership to foster enduring harmony and co-existence with the host communities.

PENGASSAN also said “there must be simple and transparent technical licensing, elimination of the downstream allocation process, end to the Minister’s role in issuing licenses and all discretionary power of the Minister with regards to licenses of all kinds”, arguing that approval processes should be simplified. It called for a single regulatory authority for upstream, midstream and downstream, capitalization and unbundling of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

On refinery, PENGASSAN demanded “the adoption of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, model of 49%/51% Equity Shares and ensure that the management of each refining company is autonomous and fully responsible for its success and failure. Effective incentives should be granted to allow for the development of private refineries alongside the existing refineries.

PENGASSAN canvassed that “the PIB should ensure mandatory recognition of the right to freedom of association and effective collective bargaining by all companies operating or doing business in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, irrespective of where they are located. The position of the 2008 original PIB position on this should be strengthened. In addition, the PIB must ensure that all companies operating in the Nigerian oil and gas industry comply with all international labour conventions that have been ratified by Nigeria; the collective agreements with the labour unions and the extant labour laws as a minimum in all their dealings with the Nigerian workers and their representatives. Workers shall transit to the new companies on same terms and conditions.”

“There should be one representative each of PENGASSAN, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC and Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in all boards and committees set up in the PIB.