The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has raised alarm over increasing job losses and suppression of workers' rights in the oil and gas sector. Speaking at the union's 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Lagos, President Prince Williams Akporeha linked the removal of fuel subsidy to widespread livelihood losses, particularly among informal sector workers. He described the economic impact as severe, with many members struggling to sustain their businesses amid rising insecurity and poor road conditions.
Akporeha stated that petroleum truck hijacking and kidnapping have increased sharply, raising operational costs for workers. He noted that many economic roads remain impassable, worsening distribution challenges across the country. While acknowledging the need for industry reforms, including the shift to gas as a transition fuel, he insisted these changes must be just and inclusive.
He accused authorities of excluding NUPENG from key policy decisions, warning that such neglect could deepen tensions in the sector. Akporeha alleged that some employers are recruiting drivers under restrictive conditions, forcing them to sign undertakings against union membership—actions he said violate the Constitution, Labour Act, and international standards. The union pledged to pursue all lawful means to protect workers' rights to collective bargaining.
During his tenure, Akporeha highlighted improvements in welfare packages, expansion of union branches, and infrastructure development. He urged the government to reskill and fund displaced workers to ensure a fair transition. "Justice and power must always rest with the working class," he said.
Prince Williams Akporeha highlights rising insecurity and impassable roads affecting workers, yet led a union conference in Lagos without addressing how these conditions disrupted members' travel. His call for reskilling and inclusion in policy comes after admitting NUPENG was not adequately consulted on existing reforms. If union leadership was sidelined in decisions that dismantled livelihoods, the credibility of future negotiations rests on more than declarations. Empty roads and hijacked trucks tell a story the podium has yet to match.
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