Nigeria: Oil Workers Support Ribadu Committee Report

ALLAFRICA

DAILY TRUST [28/11/12]

By Hamisu Muhammad

The highest decision body of the two oil workers' union in the country has declared its support for Nuhu Ribadu-led committee report on Petroleum Revenue and demanded the implementation of the recommendations.

In a communiqué released yesterdayof the joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) held Friday at Axari Hotel, Calabar, the two unions said: "The NEC-in-Session completely disagrees with any recommendation of the committee that will decimate or further delay the comprehensive Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the nation's refineries."

The NEC also equally rejects the idea of balkanizing the products pipeline network under the whims of un-bundling and urges the Idika Kalu Committee to respect the superior arguments on this issue.

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) the unions condemned the discretionary and excessive powers accorded the Petroleum Minister and the President in the draft bill and demanded the removal of the discretionary and excessive powers from the bill.