Fresh concerns are rippling across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry following a recent executive directive signed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with organised labour now calling for urgent dialogue.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged the President to convene an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to explain the scope and implications of the new Executive Order affecting the sector.
In a statement issued Sunday and signed by its President, and made available to ENigeria Newspaper, Prince Williams Akporeha, the union said anxiety is mounting among workers in the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the industry.
According to NUPENG, the directive which was signed last Wednesday has triggered uncertainty largely because of what it described as insufficient public engagement and explanation of its intent.
“As critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain, petroleum workers have expressed deep concern and anxiety over the content, intent and implications of the said Executive Order,” Akporeha stated, adding that the absence of detailed consultations has naturally heightened tension across the sector.
The union emphasized that the oil and gas industry remains central to Nigeria’s economy, serving as a major source of national revenue, foreign exchange earnings and employment. For that reason, it argued, any significant policy adjustment must be transparent and inclusive.
NUPENG warned that an Executive Order of such magnitude could have far-reaching consequences — affecting regulatory structures, investment flows, operational standards and labour relations.
Among the union’s major concerns that ENigeria Newspaper gathered is the precise objective of the Order and the reforms it intends to introduce. It also questioned how the directive aligns with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), asking whether it modifies, reinterprets or expands existing provisions under the law.
Another critical issue raised relates to the potential implications for employees and existing labour agreements. The union is seeking firm assurances that the directive will not undermine job security, working conditions, collective bargaining arrangements or ongoing restructuring efforts, particularly within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other major operators.
NUPENG also highlighted concerns about indigenous participation and local content development, questioning how the policy might affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens.
The union cautioned that without prompt clarification, speculation and misinterpretation could spread, potentially destabilizing operations and threatening the industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked to sustain.
It therefore proposed a broad-based meeting involving organised labour, regulatory bodies, operators, host communities and other key actors to ease tensions and strengthen trust in government policy.
While reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement, sectoral stability and national development, NUPENG stressed that it has a constitutional obligation to safeguard the welfare and rights of its members.
“We are duty-bound to protect the rights, welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on clear, fair and predictable policy frameworks,” Akporeha said.
The union urged President Tinubu to act swiftly, maintaining that transparent engagement is essential to preserving industrial peace, economic stability and national progress.
