NUPENG decries security agents’ harassment of members

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Tuesday decried the harassment and intimidation of oil company workers on essential services by security agents.

The union in a statement issued by its President and General Secretary, Prince Williams Akporeha and Owolabi Afolabi, respectively, also implored oil companies and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to provide adequate “security pass” for the workers.

NUPENG, however, commended its members on essential services for ensuring uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to every nook and cranny of the country as the nation battles to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement read: “The leadership of NUPENG has reviewed the roles of our members in the frontline in this critical period, as Nigerians fight to contain the spread of the deadly and contagious coronavirus pandemic. We are proud to say our members on essential services have made us proud.

“In fact, not only have they made NUPENG and United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) proud, they have indeed made the entire labour movement proud by continuing to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to every nook and cranny of the country despite the difficult and, sometimes, dangerous situations as most states across the country are on lockdown.

“Once again, we appeal to state governments, security agents and Nigerians in general to cooperate with members of our unions, who are risking their lives to provide essential services to the nation.

“At the same, we reiterate our appeal for support from corporate organisations in the provision of sanitisers and other safety kits to members of the union on essential services to protect them and members of their families.

“We are in this battle together and by the grace of God, we shall overcome. We urge all our members to remain safe and adhere strictly to all the precautionary measures given by the appropriate authorities.

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“We, at NUPENG, want to use the opportunity to call on oil companies and the DPR to provide an adequate pass to our members on essential services to end the harassment and intimidation they are being subjected to by security agents across the country.

“We have continued to receive disturbing reports of harassment and intimidation of our members by the security agents on a daily basis on their way to work and when coming back.

“These security agents are not contented with the company’s identity card. We, therefore, call on oil companies and the DPR to provide adequate security pass to these workers before the situations degenerate into a crisis.”

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