Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Rivers State Government has announced that members of all labour unions and associations in the oil and gas sector, are essential service providers.
This is as the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, had threatened to embark on a strike action in the state, following the incessant harassment of its members by the state enforcement taskforce on COVID-19.
But the state government, in line with the policies of regularly revising the essential duty sector, has informed security agencies and the COVID-19 enforcement Taskforce of the development.
Rivers State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Peter Medee, said members of the following unions and associations are considered accordingly;
“The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and its branches; Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, PETROAN; Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Workers, NNPC; Department of Petroleum Resources Workers, DPR.
Others are, “Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN; Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN; and the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPMAN.”
Medee said members of the aforementioned organizations who are on essential duty are to be allowed access, into the state to enable them perform their services during the period of the lockdown.
He warned members of these union that abuse of the privileges given would not be tolerated by the government.
“The Rivers State Government will not hesitate to withdraw such privileges in the face of abuses and members of these organisations are to reminded that this waiver is as a result of the importance which Governor Nyesom Wike attached to the activities of oil and gas sectors.”
He noted that the waiver would put an end to all forms of panic buying and storage of petrol in the home by end users of the product in the state, especially in view of the dangers associates with the mishandling of the product.
