Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Comrade Salimon Oladiti, the newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has pledged to make the security of members' rights and the improvement of their working conditions the cornerstones of his administration. Speaking at his inauguration during the union's 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Lagos over the weekend, Oladiti declared that the era of neglect for the men and women who power the nation's oil and gas sector is over. “Members’ rights and welfare will remain a priority for this administration,” he said in his acceptance speech, a copy of which was made available to the press. “We shall work tirelessly to strengthen our union and uphold the dignity of labour.”
The new president, who was previously a National Trustee of the union, promised to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Comrade Williams Akporeha. While commending the outgoing leadership’s achievements, which included improved remuneration, the construction of a new national secretariat, and the introduction of health and life insurance schemes for staff and tanker drivers, Oladiti assured delegates that he would push further. “We will collaborate with the government, labour-friendly employers, and other social partners for the betterment of the Nigerian economy and to improve the welfare and working conditions of our members across the country,” he said. “At the same time, let me assure you that we will not relent in our efforts to use all necessary diplomacy in engaging all anti-union employers in the industry to secure better conditions of service for our members.”
Oladiti’s ascension to the presidency was conducted at a critical time for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The sector is undergoing major transitions, including refinery expansion, market liberalisation, and mounting energy transition pressures.
These changes have sparked significant labour concerns over job security, welfare, and industry reforms. In his valedictory address, the outgoing president, Williams Akporeha, had raised serious alarms over escalating job losses and the suppression of workers’ rights. “Drivers were recruited under restrictive conditions, forced to sign undertakings against union membership. This is a direct violation of the Constitution, the Labour Act, and international labour standards,” Akporeha warned, urging the new leadership to remain resolute.
The federal government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has thrown its weight behind the new leadership. Represented by the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations (TUSIR), Falonipe Amos, the minister urged Oladiti to sustain the culture of industrial harmony. “Comrade Akporeha’s your commitment to constructive dialogue while agitating for workers’ welfare is exemplary. He contributed meaningfully to industrial harmony. We urge the executive that will succeed him to take a cue from this,”
Dingyadi said, cautioning that dialogue should not be disregarded in favour of confrontation. In his response, Oladiti announced plans to establish a truth and reconciliation committee and to work closely with past leaders to sustain internal cohesion, vowing that the union would not be used as a tool for political division.
Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), paid a moving tribute to the outgoing president, noting that the collaboration between NUPENG and PENGASSAN had reached unprecedented levels. “No single member lost their job due to the divestments by international oil companies,” Osifo said, attributing the success to the solidarity between the two unions. Meanwhile, delegates at the conference echoed Akporeha’s concerns about insecurity and dilapidated road infrastructure, which continue to endanger the lives of petroleum truck drivers. “It is disheartening that insecurity continues to spread without any clear signs of being contained. Incidents of petroleum truck hijacking and kidnapping have risen sharply, forcing our members to spend more on securing their businesses,” Akporeha said.
As the conference theme “Justice and Power in the Nigerian Industrial Relations System” drew to a close, Oladiti’s message was clear: the union would not be a rubber stamp for government policies that harm workers. He and 15 others, including Deputy President Akin Oladejo, have been elected unopposed for a four-year term. Oladiti, who is a former National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch, has also pledged to resist any attempts to impose monopolistic control over the union. The new president and his team are expected to hit the ground running, tackling the urgent issues of job losses and unfair labour practices while navigating the choppy waters of Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments