BEVERLY HILLS, September 26, (THEWILL) – Workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Ayuba Wabba-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have vowed to resist the planned sale of national assets by the Federal Government.
PENGASSAN, in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojugbana, threatened to shut down the country should the Federal Government carry out its plan to sell national assets to augment revenue shortfall.
It declared that it would not sit back and watch the sale of national assets, especially those in the oil and gas industry, such as the Nigeria LNG that had become a huge revenue-earner for Nigeria saying the plan to sell the national assets as a self-destructive move.
“Any attempt to sell these national assets will be met with stiff resistance from the association, as PENGASSAN will galvanise every support, including that of our sister union and labour centres to shut down this country by ensuring that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a complete halt,” the statement read.
“The plan meant to solve short-term financial obligations is targeted at handing over our collective wealth to a few individuals and further impoverish the rest of our countrymen and women.
“Some opportunists in the clothes of businessmen and short-sighted politicians had earlier advocated the sale of public assets such as the NLNG, four state-owned refineries, Nigeria’s stakes in the Africa Finance Corporation, the nation’s airports and reduction of government’s shares in upstream oil joint venture operations and this was approved by the National Economic Council.
“They should tell us what will happen after the recession if we have sold the assets to greedy individuals. Will the country go cap in hand begging those individuals who bought the assets and borrowing from them?
“The plan is ill-timed and unwarranted as it does not serve national interest. No nation could develop, survive or feel secure after selling all its national assets.
“Doing this will further mortgage the future of our great country in the hands of few cabals. These individuals are just looking for advantage to further loot the country through illegal acquisition of the national assets as in the case of various oil blocks held by a few powerful Nigerians.
“The sale of national assets is not only surprising but also embarrassing for a nation experiencing economic recession. The proponents of the sale of national assets are those who have been actively involved in the operations of the nation’s economy in the past. They were part of those responsible for the country’s current economic situation.”
“It is, therefore, the candid position of PENGASSAN that such a plan should be thrown into the trash bin. Government should continue to seek better ways to address the present economic challenges and reduce areas of wastage. The long overdue calls for diversification of the economy should be driven with all seriousness; more action is required urgently than propaganda mechanism.”
On its part, The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), through its General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Ogbebor, declared: “We will resist the sale with all our might. It is not in the best interest of Nigerians. It will only compound the unemployment in the country.
“It will also compound the restiveness and agitation in the Niger Delta. There is no way we are going to accept it. If the President is really a patriot as claimed, he should not yield to the pressure because enemies of the country are at work.
“However, our organs will meet either as NUPENG or jointly with PENGASSAN to deal with it. Certainly, it is unacceptable, unpatriotic, anti-Nigeria and must be rejected and resisted by all. We call on Mr. President to declare a state of emergency on the economy and summon an all-encompassing stakeholders meeting to brainstorm on how the present economic challenges can be quickly addressed.”
Similarly, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday in Abuja said that selling the country’s national assets is not an alternative option to addressing its present economic challenges.
The President of the Union, Mr Ayuba Wabba called on Nigerians to protect the nation’s assets by saying no to the sale of the country’s national assets as was being proposed by some individuals declaring that the nation’s national assets is all it has for the future generation.
Story by David Oputah
