The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has raised concerns over worsening job losses and what it described as increasing suppression of workers’ rights in the country’s oil and gas industry.
The warning came from outgoing NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, during his valedictory address at the union’s 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference held in Lagos at the weekend.
Akporeha said recent economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, have had far-reaching effects on workers, particularly those in the informal segment of the sector. “Many of our members, especially in the informal sector, have lost livelihoods,” he said.
While acknowledging government efforts to reposition the energy sector, he stressed that such reforms must be implemented in a way that protects workers. He called for a “just and fair transition” backed by reskilling, retraining, and financial support for affected workers.
The labour leader also criticised what he described as the exclusion of unions from key policy decisions affecting the industry, warning that limited consultation could heighten tensions in the sector.
He further alleged increasing cases of anti-union practices by some employers, including attempts to restrict workers from joining labour unions. According to him, such actions violate national labour laws and international standards.
“Workers’ rights to union representation and collective bargaining must be respected,” Akporeha said, pledging that NUPENG would pursue legal and institutional measures to defend affected members.
Beyond labour issues, he highlighted worsening insecurity and infrastructure challenges facing petroleum workers, including rising cases of truck hijackings, kidnappings, and poor road conditions affecting fuel distribution nationwide.
Despite the concerns, Akporeha pointed to gains recorded during his tenure, including improvements in welfare, expansion of union branches, and infrastructure development within the union.
He called on government and industry stakeholders to prioritise job protection and workers’ rights in ongoing sector reforms, stressing that “justice and dignity for the working class” must remain central to policy decisions.
NUPENG, which represents workers in Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector, remains a key labour union alongside the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), with both historically capable of disrupting fuel supply through industrial action.
