Unions in the oil industry have called on the Federal Government to convene a stakeholders� forum to look into the causes of hostilities in the Niger Delta region.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) chapters of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) are worried over incessant hostage-taking and other problems.
Their call was contained in a 12-point communiqu� jointly signed at the end of their meeting in Warri, Delta State on Friday.
They called on government to publicise the Niger Delta development master plan and begin its implementation immediately.
They also called on government to embark on a continuous update of the citizens on the extent of work being done.
The unions called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to �concentrate on the provision of visible, measurable and verifiable infrastructures such as good road network, flyovers, jetties and cottage industries�.
They advised NDDC against using meager resources on provision of waste disposal bins, trucks, buses, boats, and school chairs, which were the responsibilities of the state and local governments.
They asked the states in the region to publish the projects executed with the 13 per cent derivation disbursement from the Federation Account since 1999.
The Federal Government should exercise its oversight function in ensuring that the derivation fund was judiciously utilised and accounted for, they advised.
They called for the establishment of higher educational institutions, recreational and vocational facilities and tourist resorts in the remote areas of the region in order to engage the youths in gainful activities.
The associations also called on the Federal Government to pursue international efforts to discourage the purchase of stolen crude oil to curtail bunkering and other criminal activities.
They also called on the people of the region to �cooperate with the oil companies in the implementation of agreed community development projects and avoid acts that cause undue delays�.
The unions urged the people to continue to embrace dialogue in solving problems.