Organized Labour has reaffirmed its stance against the full privatization of public refineries, following its recent visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State. Labour leaders argue that any sale should involve the private sector holding a majority stake, while the government, workers, and host communities retain minority ownership.
Prince Williams Akporeha, President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), emphasized that Labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), NUPENG, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), all support the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model. This model allows the private sector to hold 51% of the shares, with the government retaining 49%, which Labour regards as a balanced and effective approach.
Akporeha noted that the visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery reinforced Labour’s opposition to an outright sale of the country’s refineries, including those in Warri and Kaduna. He argued that no private investor could realistically recoup the costs of rehabilitating the Port Harcourt facility, which has undergone substantial upgrades, with over 90% of its equipment replaced.
The Labour leaders are also critical of past privatizations, which they claim have been marred by mismanagement and political patronage. They insist that taxpayers’ money and national assets should not be handed over as “scrap” or used for political gain.
In conclusion, Akporeha confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is operational and functioning well, despite some public skepticism. He reaffirmed Labour’s position that they will only accept a privatization model where the private sector has a controlling stake and the government, workers, and communities hold minority shares.
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