By Victor AhiumaYoung

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammed Dangyadi, has charged Union leaders in the country to strive to leave enduring legacies for future generations.

He equally urged trade unions to imbibe the spirit of excellence in their respective sectors and contribute to  the nation’s economic development and prosperity.

The Minister spoke at the commissioning of the 7-storey New national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, in Lagos, known as NUPENG Tower.

Among others, the Minister represented by the Registrar of Trade Union, RTU, Falonipe Amos, lauded efforts of the leadership of the Union headed by Prince Williams Akporeha, “whose quest for excellence speaks volumes as manifested in his achievement of this great feat. This is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other Associations and Trade Unions in all sectors in this great country.”

The Minister said the new national secretariat would enhance the operational efficiency of your great Union in the discharge of its duties to her members, thereby resulting in increased productivity. I enjoin you all to use this Secretariat positively for the attainment of Equity, Fairness and Social justice for your members and it is my expectation that you will effectively utilise it to promote industrial peace and harmony in the Oil and Gas Sector of the nation’s economy in line with the drive of the present administration to provide quality and affordable life for all Nigerians across the length and breadth of this country.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to implore other Unions that are yet to commence similar projects to emulate what we are celebrating with NUPENG today. This will indeed go down in history as one of the greatest legacies bequethed to both the present and future generations in the leadership circle of trade unionism in Nigeria.

“Let me draw your attention to the need for a good maintenance culture such that this complex will perpetually be habitable and beneficial to the present and future members of your Union. This is because where there is no regular maintenance of a building such as this, the safety of the building and its occupants would not be guaranteed; and cases of possible deterioration/fire out-breaks cannot be prevented.

It is therefore my advice that you constantly carry out inspections/repairs where necessary to ensure that the structure remains safe for occupants, and for minimizing the risk of accidents or failures due to structural deficiencies.”