By Victor AhiumaYoung

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, weekend said the late Former General Secretary of the Union, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, was a labour activist, with a difference.

President of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha, in a tribute to the iconic labour leaders and pro-democracy hero during his burial in his Ovu community,  Ethiope East Local Government of Delta State, said Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori was not merely a Comrade or leader; he was a force of nature.

In a graveside oration titled “Remembering the Legacy of Comrade (Chief) Frank Ovie Kokori: A Tribute to a Towering Figure in Labour Movement and Democratic Struggles”, Akporeha, among others, said: “His dedication to the struggles of our workers, his unmatched fervor, and his relentless pursuit of justice defined his tenure as the General Secretary of NUPENG. He fearlessly fought for the rights of our fellow workers, ensuring better working conditions, fair wages, and improved welfare for the backbones of our nation’s oil and gas sector. Today, we stand tall on the shoulders of his tireless efforts.

“Comrade Frank Kokori’s legacy will forever be etched in our hearts and minds. His unwavering determination to challenge injustice transcended mere words – it was action always. He fearlessly took on the giants of the industry, proving that the rights of the workers should never be trampled upon. His unwavering valor and his ability to mobilize our workers with his fiery oration inspired a generation of unionists and gave voice to the voiceless. He became a true champion of the working class, leading with integrity, empathy, and an unquenchable spirit.

“Through his insightful leadership, Comrade Kokori led the transformation of NUPENG into an organization that represented the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian oil and gas workers. Under his stewardship, NUPENG became a powerhouse, fighting to secure and protect the rights and welfare of workers across the sector. He was a visionary, always at the forefront of advocating fair labor practices and policies that would uplift the lives of every worker in our industry. A great leader and comrade of no ill repute. and A colossus in his time.

In my opinion, he was one of the greatest labour leaders in Nigeria’s history. He was a dedicated fighter and promoter of the rights and protection of workers in Nigeria. His struggle for the oil and gas workers is one for the history books. These struggles led him to be arrested at various times, but he was never deterred. He continued in the fight to the very end.

“One of such struggles can be seen in the fight for the rights of contract workers. In December 1991, the Union issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government on the evils of contract employment in the oil and gas industry. The government called for a tripartite meeting which resulted in the signing of a communique in January 1992. The communique granted the Union the right to unionize contract workers and to negotiate conditions of service for them. This was a major gain at the time as contract workers were not allowed the freedom to belong to the union. Up till this day, contract workers are free to join the union.”