Posted by This Day Online on
Labour again was thrown into grief yesterday as information filtered in that the vibrant and colourful President of Petroluen and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Uche Okoro was among those who lost their lives in the Portharcourt air disaster involving Sosoliso airline.
Labour again was thrown into grief yesterday as information filtered in that the vibrant and colourful President of Petroluen and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Uche Okoro was among those who lost their lives in the Portharcourt air disaster involving Sosoliso airline.
Okoro who emerged President about six months ago was on his way to Port Harcount to see the family after an official engagement in Abuja.Regarded as a grassroot activist, Okoro started his labour career with the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers where he became President.
Under his tenure, Okoro was at the forefront in the battle against the military especially during Abacha regime. He left NUPENG when he was promoted in his oil company to a senior staff cadre.
He was overwhelmingly elected as the President of PENGASSAN this year, to set the enviable record of being the first unionist to lead two unions in the same industry. Known to be very committed to demoncratic principles and values, few days ago, Okoro declared that he would mobilise the oil workers against the speculated third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo. At the press conference which turned out to be his last, Okoro declared the agenda not only as a huge joke, but an ambition of few selfish politicians which would never materialise.
He was at the process of unifying the two unions: NUPENG and PENGASSAN, a measure which he declared will strenghten the negotiating capacity of the oil workers.