Oladiti Takes Over As NUPENG President

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has elected Comrade Salimon Oladiti as its new president, following the completion of the eight-year tenure of Comrade Williams Akporeha.
Oladiti, who will lead the union for the next four years, was previously a National Trustee of NUPENG. He emerged at the union’s 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference held in Lagos on Friday.
Also elected was Comrade Akin Oladejo, former Chairman of the union’s Oil and Gas Supply Branch, who will serve as deputy president.
Oladiti assumes leadership at a critical time for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, with both upstream and downstream sectors undergoing major transitions, including refinery expansion, market liberalisation, energy transition pressures, and ongoing labour concerns over workers’ welfare, job security, and industry reforms.
In his address to delegates, the outgoing president, Comrade Williams Akporeha, urged the federal government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Justice and Power in the Nigerian Industrial Relations System,” Akporeha stressed that addressing insecurity remains essential for achieving sustainable economic development.
He warned that efforts to drive industrialisation and attract foreign investment would be undermined without a secure and conducive environment.
“It is disheartening that insecurity continues to spread without any clear signs of being contained. From the North-East to the South-South, insecurity is hampering petroleum operations. Incidents of petroleum truck hijacking and kidnapping have risen sharply, forcing our members to spend more on securing their businesses,” he said.
While commending the efforts of security agencies, Akporeha called on the government to improve their welfare and equip them with more sophisticated tools to combat crime.
He also raised concerns about the poor state of critical road infrastructure, noting that many economic routes remain in deplorable condition.
“Although we acknowledge ongoing road construction efforts, many key economic roads are still impassable. Our members, who traverse the length and breadth of the country, face extremely difficult conditions, especially with the rainy season approaching. Government must urgently address these challenges,” he added.
Participants at the conference echoed similar concerns, warning that without decisive action to curb insecurity, the country’s economic and political aspirations could remain unattainable.
Akporeha charged the newly elected leadership to prioritise workers’ welfare and uphold the union’s core values.
“To the new executive, guard this union jealously, defend the rights of workers, resist monopolistic control, and remember that justice and power must always rest with the working class,” he said.