Fresh tension is brewing in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) calls on President Bola Tinubu to urgently convene a broad-based stakeholders’ meeting over the new Executive Order on the sector.
The union warned that uncertainty surrounding the directive has triggered anxiety among workers across upstream, midstream and downstream operations. With the oil industry serving as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, NUPENG said any policy shift especially one introduced through an Executive Order must be clearly explained to prevent unrest.
Anxiety Over Executive Order
In a statement signed by its President, Prince Williams Akporeha, NUPENG said petroleum workers are deeply concerned about the content, intent and implications of the Executive Order signed last Wednesday.
“The absence of detailed public engagement has naturally generated tension within the sector,” the union stated, noting that workers are eager to understand how the directive could affect job security, welfare, labour agreements and ongoing restructuring processes, particularly within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other major operators.
NUPENG specifically demanded clarity on the scope and objectives of the Order, its relationship with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and whether it amends or expands existing regulatory provisions. The union also raised concerns about possible effects on indigenous participation, local content development and employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Strike Threat Looms as Tension Rises
While reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement and national development, NUPENG cautioned that misinterpretation of the Executive Order could destabilise operations and undermine industrial harmony within the sector.
The union stressed that it is constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare of its members. It therefore urged President Tinubu to immediately bring together organised labour, regulators, operators and host community representatives to clarify grey areas and restore confidence.
With the Nigeria Labour Congress signalling support for NUPENG, the possibility of industrial action now looms if concerns remain unaddressed. For a country heavily dependent on oil revenue and foreign exchange earnings, stakeholders say dialogue and fast may be the only way to prevent disruption.