South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The management of the state-owned oil company, the Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet), has condemned the ongoing staff sit-in strike, labelling it as politically motivated.
On Monday, the Staff Workers’ Trade Union of the oil firm initiated a week-long sit-in strike, calling for the immediate removal of their managing director, Ayuel Ngor Ayuel, citing allegations of mismanagement within the company.
The staff demanded three months of unpaid salary arrears, allowances, and benefits.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Nilepet Department of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs said that the agenda of the strike by the Nilepet Workers Trade Union was intended to sabotage ongoing reforms.
“The actions of this group appear to be politically motivated, aimed at discrediting the corporation’s leadership and disrupting ongoing reforms,” it said.
They disowned the group calling itself the ‘Nilepet Workers Trade Union’, stating that it is neither a registered legal entity nor a recognised structure within the corporation.
“Its formation did not follow the proper procedures outlined in the Nilepet Act, including formal establishment through a general assembly under the supervision of the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Labour.”
The corporation acknowledged the issues raised by the Nilepet Workers Trade Union—specifically concerning health insurance, staff bonuses, clothing allowances, and salary delays—as genuine and longstanding, without stating how to address them.
“These challenges have existed since 2022 and were inherited from previous administrations,” it said.
“The situation was further aggravated by the shutdown of the BAPCO pipeline in Blocks 3 & 7 in February 2024, which had a substantial negative impact on oil production and revenue for both Nilepet and the Government of South Sudan.”
The corporation called on all staff members to remain focused on their professional duties and to refrain from participating in activities that undermine the corporation’s integrity.
It stressed that employees should avoid activities driven by what it termed ‘unauthorised and politically influenced agendas.’
It urged employees to channel their grievances through constructive and legitimate channels.
“Nilepet’s Managing Director, Eng. Ayuel Ngor Ayuel Kagor, remains steadfast in his commitment to resolving inherited challenges, improving staff welfare, and securing the corporation’s future as a vital national asset.”
