Labour urges Rivers govt to protect environment, workers' interests
Port Harcourt -- The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has urged the Rivers State Government to intervene and ensure that the interest of workers and the environment are protected in the ongoing onshore assets divestment by multinational oil companies.
The organised labour also urged the government to partner with investors to build rail lines across the state, following the removal of railway from the federal government's exclusive list to concurrent list by the National Assembly.
The Chairman of TUC in Rivers State, Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru, who made the call while addressing Rivers State
Governor Nyesom Wike, at the 2023 May Day ceremony in Port Harcourt recently, urged the state government to prevail on international oil companies, IOCs, to ensure that the environment is restored to its original state before divestment.
Onyefuru tasked the governor to step in and protect the interest of the state in the ongoing onshore and shallow water assets sale by oil companies.
"Sir, you may be aware that some lOCs have commenced divestment of their joint venture interest with NNPC Ltd. We humbly appeal for your intervention to ensure that the interest of our members and the state are protected in this instance, with special mention to severance package, abandonmen t process, and business continuity post divestment.
"In the past when IOCs divest, they collect their revenue and walk away. But,Your Excellency, you may know that the issue of abandonment cost is important. We are appealing that as oil multinationals begin this process, the state will ensure that they restore our land to its original state before leaving," he said.
On the issue of connecting the entire Rivers State by rails, the TUC chief explained that rail network will foster economic growth in the state and also provide employment opportunities, while assuring of readiness to partner with the state to make the project a reality.