Oladiti Pledges to Uphold Workers’ Welfare as Labour Minister Calls for Continuity

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Honourable Muhammad Maigari Dangyadi, has advised the newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, to build on the strong legacies established by his immediate predecessor, Comrade Williams Akporeha.

Dangyadi gave this charge during his goodwill message at the 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of NUPENG held over the weekend in Lagos.
Oladiti, alongside 15 others, was elected unopposed as national officers of the union for a four-year term.
Represented by the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations (TUSIR), Falonipe Amos, the Minister recalled the cordial and productive relationship between NUPENG and stakeholders across the midstream, downstream, and upstream sectors. He urged the new leadership to sustain the culture of harmonious industrial relations.
He emphasized that while advocating for improved welfare of members, dialogue should take precedence over confrontation.
According to him, “The Federal Government values NUPENG’s contributions to national development. Comrade Akporeha’s commitment to constructive dialogue while advocating for workers’ welfare is exemplary. He contributed significantly to industrial harmony. We urge the incoming executive to take a cue from this.”
In his acceptance speech, Comrade Oladiti commended his predecessor for notable achievements, including improved remuneration, construction of a befitting national secretariat, and introduction of health and life insurance schemes for staff and tanker drivers.
He assured members that his administration would build on these gains and take the union to greater heights.
“Your dedication, sacrifices, and steadfast leadership have laid a strong foundation upon which we will continue to build. The new leadership will not disappoint. We are committed to strengthening our union and upholding the dignity of labour,” he said.
Oladiti also pledged to collaborate with government, labour-friendly employers, and other stakeholders to improve the welfare and working conditions of members nationwide. He added that his leadership would continue to engage employers through dialogue to secure better service conditions.
He further announced plans to establish a “truth and reconciliation committee” while working closely with elders and past leaders of the union.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Comrade Akporeha highlighted his administration’s achievements, including improved staff welfare, construction of a modern national secretariat, and implementation of health and life insurance schemes.
He noted that upon assuming office, the union’s secretariat faced challenges with a demoralized and aging workforce, but reforms led to improved staff morale, prompt payment of entitlements, recruitment of new personnel, and enhanced working conditions.
“The crowning achievement is the NUPENG Towers, a modern workspace commissioned in December 2024,” he stated.
In his goodwill message, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Festus Osifo, praised Akporeha as a dependable partner in advancing workers’ welfare in the oil and gas sector.
He noted that the collaboration between NUPENG and PENGASSAN over the past eight years had been highly productive, leading to significant improvements in members’ remuneration, particularly within international oil companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Osifo also pointed out that recent divestments by some international oil companies in the upstream sector did not result in job losses for members of either union.
He assured Oladiti of continued collaboration, stating that the strong relationship between both unions would be sustained for the benefit of their members.