Workers oppose proposed NLNG Act amendment

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has cautioned against the proposed amendment of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Act, saying it is capable of denying the nation $25 billion foreign investment.

The union said the federal government risked possible loss of $124 million per annum which is paid as dividend and related taxes if the proposed amendment of the NLNG Act sailed through.

President of the union, Comrade Olabode Johnson and Acting General Secretary,Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, disclosed these in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting.

The union said: “The expected 18,000 jobs for Train 7 and 8 will be lost if the act is amended. This is at a time when the Niger Delta and the nation are in such dire need of jobs that 18,000 jobs with its attendant multiplier effects on dependants will be very significant to the country”.

It also said any amendment will result in a return to a high flaring and negative impact on the Niger Delta environment.

The union advocated that the sanctity of the NLNG and its provisions, be preserved in the over all interest of Nigeria.

“Indeed, we believe that based on the NLNG success story, similar guarantees and incentives should urgently be extended to enable the take-off of other projects, beginning with the stalled Brass and OK LNG projects.

“This will go a long way towards addressing the problem of mass unemployment affecting millions of Nigerians and the many security challenges it has given rise to,” it said.