Guardian

WORKERS in the petroleum and gas industry have faulted what they called excessive powers accorded the President and Minister of Petroleum Resources in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly.

In a communiqué issued by the unions under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), at a joint National Executive Council meeting in Calabar, and made available to The Guardian, said the clauses that confer such powers should be expunged from the bill.

But, they admitted that though there were flaws that should not be enough excuse to dump the bill, which should ensure a balance between government and investor interests to ensure the continued growth of the industry.

They, among others, noted that the PIB as drafted at present does not guarantee the transparency and accountability and therefore demanded that the transparency and accountability provisions of the bill be strengthened.

According to the unions, labour issues relating to workers’ transfer, conditions of service, severances, pensions and gratuities were left out in the PIB, noting that all labour issues, including transfer of workers, pension and gratuities should be properly addressed and captured in the PIB.

The union also demanded that the PIB include a provision that a percentage of not less than 30 per cent of the crude oil produced by oil companies be refined in-country while adequate provisions must also be made in the Bill to encourage downstream petroleum refining.