Oil workers bemoan insecurity, unemployment

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN )  have  expressed worry over the spate of criminal activities in the country, which they said, is a threat to the nation’s unity. The position was contained in a communiqué […]

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN )  have  expressed worry over the spate of criminal activities in the country, which they said, is a threat to the nation’s unity.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting held in Abuja.

The unions described as “disturbing” the incessant killings and wanton destruction of lives and property, especially farmlands which was a  threat to the food security base of the country. He called on the Federal Government and the affected state governments to collaborate and take urgent  steps to reinvigorate and overhaul their security system to tackle the insecurity in their domains.   

The unions said: “Also more worrisome is the threat to foreign direct investment as many international investors start to misconstrue Nigeria as an unsafe and dangerous investment destination. This equally amounts to the losses these crises have caused many of our members and the psychological and economic damage they have suffered over the years.”

The unions also decried what they termed “the increasing rate of slave labour with no hope for career growth and development in the country. 

“In almost all multinational oil companies in Nigeria, there are no more direct permanent jobs for the middle level to lower level cadre, which has now become a bigger challenge of increased violent crimes and suicidal migrations. 

“We demand that the government should make positive change in employment policies and system, especially in the Oil and Gas Industry.” 

It called on the government to make it mandatory for every oil and gas company in Nigeria to employ not less than 50% of its employees of middle to junior cadre as direct permanent workers to help indigent and less privileged youths to grow.