Labour Speaks Out On Refinery Sale After Port Harcourt Visit

Organized Labour Insists on NLNG Model for Refinery Privatization

Organized Labour has reiterated its opposition to the outright sale of public refineries, proposing instead a privatization model similar to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) structure, where the private sector holds a majority stake while the government, workers, and host communities retain minority stakes.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that during a visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery, the President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Prince Williams Akporeha, highlighted the collective stance of major unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), NUPENG, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Akporeha explained that the NLNG model, where the private sector holds 51% ownership and the federal government retains 49%, has proven effective and ensures satisfaction among stakeholders.

He dismissed the feasibility of outright privatization, emphasizing the extensive rehabilitation already completed at the Port Harcourt Refinery. “No private investor can recoup the funds invested in its rehabilitation,” Akporeha stated. “The facility has undergone over 90% equipment replacement, making it nearly a new refinery.”

Citing past failures in privatization, he argued against selling public assets as “scrap or political patronage.” He added, “The Port Harcourt Refinery is functioning well, and we witnessed its operations firsthand.”

Organized Labour has firmly declared that the NLNG model, with its balance of control and shared ownership, is the only acceptable framework for privatizing refineries such as those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

Labour leaders emphasized that taxpayers’ money and national assets should not be sold without ensuring sustainable benefits for all stakeholders, including workers and host communities.

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