PENGASSAN, NUPENG Want Refineries Fixed Before Subsidy Removal

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged that refineries should be working before deregulation in the petrol sector can be made.

The agency also said any deregulation in the petroleum sector that is still dependent on the importation of oil would affect the economy negatively.

The union’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said this in an interview;  “The position of the union has always been that deregulation should be on local production. By this, we are saying that the refineries should be working before the government can deregulate.

“Any deregulation that is based on the importation of oil, as we have at the moment, will have a negative impact on the economy. Global oil crash will always affect our economy under this circumstance"

Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) described the removal of subsidy a very brilliant idea.

Speaking on the development, the National Public Relations Officer of the union, Mr. Fortune Obi, said the removal of subsidy is good but to effect it in the country, the government should make sure its refineries are working effectively.

He said, “The removal of the subsidy on petroleum products is a right step in the right direction; however, there is a lacuna.

“The lacuna is that the nation’s refineries are not working.”