The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Lagos State chapter, has kicked against the planned privatisation of the nation’s refineries, urging the federal government to allow partnership with a view to rehabilitating and managing them.
NUPENG’s State Chairman, Tokunbo Korodo, said this while speaking on whether the FG should privatise or rehabilitate the refineries.
He said that any policy that would lead to job losses should not be supported, adding that more of government intervention was needed.
According to him, “Any policy of government that will lead to job losses should not be supported. You will notice that some of the multinational oil companies are winding down and this is leading to more job losses. Over 3,000 workers have lost their jobs recently. This is why we need more government intervention at this time. NUPENG does not support selling of public property.
“If at all they want to have a little shift from taking sole responsibility, there should rather be a partnership. This partnership will bring results and the refineries will be rehabilitated and competent hands can be brought in to manage them.
“We stand against selling off of the refineries. The government should allow partnership with a view to rehabilitating and managing our refineries. We may shift away from the government’s domineering position. But these refineries are our heritage and privatising them will lead to job losses. That should not be allowed to happen,” he said.
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