Salimon Oladiti, the newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has pledged to prioritize the welfare of workers and work tirelessly to fortify the union while upholding the dignity of labour. He made this commitment in his acceptance speech after being unanimously elected at the union's sixth Quadrennial Delegates Conference held in Lagos, where new leaders were chosen to steer the union for the next four years.
New Leadership and Commitments
Oladiti, who previously served as a national trustee representing the informal sector, also promised to build upon the achievements of his predecessor and employ diplomatic strategies to engage with anti-union employers in order to protect members' rights. The conference saw the emergence of several leaders, including Deputy President Oladejo Ebenezer, Deputy President Prince Moses, Treasurer Baba Kaumi, Trustee Omokero Israel, Financial Secretary Ogbodo Thompson, Public Relations Officer Ndaliman Adamu, and Vice President of Lagos Otegbayo Modupe, among others.
Outgoing President's Farewell
In his farewell address, outgoing President William Akporeha highlighted numerous accomplishments during his tenure, most notably the construction of the seven-storey national secretariat known as NUPENG Tower, which was commissioned in December 2024. He stated, "Today, we are not abandoning a fragmented house. Instead, we leave a stronger, more resilient, and more democratic NUPENG – a union that has defended its members, grown its influence, increased its assets, and safeguarded its core values." Addressing the new executive, Akporeha urged, "The baton is yours. Guard this union jealously. Defend the rights of workers. Resist monopolistic control and never forget that justice and power must always rest with the working class."
Conference Theme and Legal Perspectives
Speaking on the conference theme 'Justice and Power in the Nigerian Industrial Relations System,' Union Attorney and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Folabi Kuti, noted that the theme addresses a painful irony: while workers tirelessly advocate for local content, some local players in the oil and gas industry have become the biggest threat to their welfare and dignity. He emphasized that maintaining the system's credibility requires rigorous legislative reforms and strict enforcement of judicial orders against both government and corporate actors. He stressed that enforcing judicial orders is vital, particularly for corporate actors who believe they are too powerful to follow the rules.
