OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2014. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha, has pledged his readiness to work harmoniously with the two in-house Unions for the benefit of the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Dr. Dawha gave this assurance when he received the leadership of the two in-house unions: Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, yesterday.

“I want to acknowledge the cordial industrial harmony that is evident in our co-operation over the years. We must sustain this relationship as it is vital to our survival as a corporation,” Dr. Dawha stated.

He expressed gratitude to the two in-house unions and the entire NNPC staff for the “warm reception” which has greeted his appointment as GMD NNPC.

According to the GMD, the NNPC is saddled with enormous responsibilities which must be met and this requires a great deal of healthy collaboration with the workers’ representatives.

“We can’t afford to fail on our mandate to the Nigerian people. This has to begin with a steady flow of our various oil and gas operations across the nation,” he added.

He stated that the new management will operate an open door policy, adding that there was every need for both management and the unions to listen to each other for the Corporation to make progress.

On some of the issues raised by the two unions, the GMD noted that sooner rather than later, the Management will look into them with the aim of finding lasting solutions around them.

He assured the Unions that as a responsible organisation, the new NNPC Management will continue to put staff welfare at the top most of its objectives.

“To all these issues you raised, we’ll give them our best shot because we are here to make a difference,” Dr. Dawha assured.

Earlier in their respective addresses, the Group Chairmen of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, Comrade Sanusi Abdulhakeem and Comrade Richard Otovwievwiere congratulated the GMD on his “well-deserved appointment” and assured him of their readiness to work with him harmoniously for the Corporation to move forward.

Also in attendance were the National Presidents of PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis O. Johnson and NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, both of whom are staff of the Corporation.