Leadership (Abuja)
Ese Awhotu and John Moses
2 November 2009
Abuja — There was suspense yesterday at the premises of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) as members of the country's senior oil workers, the
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Staff of the PPPRA shut the headquarters of the agency in Abuja to protest the appointment of Dr. Ahmadu Ali, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the agency's Board Chairman.
Ali, the immediate past national chairman of PDP, had his appointment as Nigeria's High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa rejected by the authorities in Pretoria.
The South African government had said that his utterances and conduct while he served as the national chairman of PDP fell short of the qualities expected of a top diplomat.
Also, during his tenure as the PDP boss, Ahmadu Ali had penciled the name of his spouse and son as members of the board of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). Former President Olusegun Obasanjo rejected the list and consequently removed the names from the board's list.
While yesterday's protest lasted, no body including pressmen were allowed into the premises of the PPPRA. However,the most exciting aspect of yesterday's protest against Ahmadu Ali was that the senior oil workers and other staff immediately declared a week long fasting and prayers that the entire management be sacked to give the new Executive Secretary, Mr. Abiodun Ibikunle the chance to perform his duties in line with the Federal government's mandate.
As early as 8.30 in the morning, staff of the agency in company of the leadership of the PENGASSAN led by Comrade Dauda Enemolo seized the premises of the agency located at 3, Sankuro Street, Maitama, Abuja and locked out all staff of the agency.
LEADERSHIP gathered authoritatively that part of the grievances of the workers was the maltreatment of staff by management, which include the non-payment of three months outstanding allowances. Other issues are non-regularization of appointments and welfare of members of staff drawn from other establishments to run the agency.
The protest and prayer session lasted for over three hours but none of the management staff could be seen at the premises as the union members had locked up both the gates and the doors insisting that none of their bosses would be allowed entrance. As at press time, neither the Executive Secretary of the agency, Abiodun Ibikunle nor the head of the public affairs could be reached for comments on the protest.
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