The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has called on the Federal Government to cease the Navy’s destruction of refining sites labeled as “illegal” in the Niger Delta region. NULGE’s President, Ambali Olatunji, emphasized the need for President Bola Tinubu to intervene, urging the Nigerian Navy to refrain from destroying these sites.
Olatunji argued that destroying the refining sites has no positive impact on the country’s oil and gas sector or the well-being of Nigerians. Instead, he proposed that these sites should be properly licensed and obligated to pay taxes. This approach, according to Olatunji, would create job opportunities and contribute to revenue generation.
Additionally, NULGE urged the Federal Government to consider licensing more modular refineries with the capacity to refine crude oil. The union emphasized the importance of encouraging capable individuals within Nigeria to undertake such ventures, especially if multinational companies are scaling back their operations.
Addressing the issue of the minimum wage, Olatunji called on the President and the Tripartite Committee to establish an acceptable salary for workers. Regarding security concerns, he advocated for allowing local governments to implement community policing to safeguard the lives and property of citizens within their jurisdiction.
