NUPENG Suspends Planned Strike, NNPC To Fix Bad Roads

The National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has agreed to suspend the strike planned by its affiliate members, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD).

 

The federal government's swift action has controlled the situation that would have allowed the kicking off of the strike planned for Monday.

 

The suspension was announced in Lagos by the South-West Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Mr Tayo Aboyeji.

 

Aboyeji said the suspension was to pave way for review of the issues at hand by the union and the government to find lasting solution.

 

He said, “The leadership of the union after a brief meeting with representatives of the government decided to suspend the strike in the interest of the nation.

 

“The meeting with the government continues during the week with the assurance that the union’s grievances will be positively addressed."

 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had pleaded with the tanker drivers, adding that the corporation had already commenced process of solving the problem.

 

In a statement released yesterday, the NNPC assured that it will support the reconstruction of selected roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme.

 

The statement read that, "The thrust of the NNPC’s intervention is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through its future tax liability, having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds."

 

The corporation which had earlier pleaded with the tanker Drivers to shelve the planned strike said it's intervention was to ease hardships of the drivers plying the roads.

 

The statement read that, “However, even though it is not the responsibility of the NNPC to build or rehabilitate roads, any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will adversely affect the business of the NNPC and endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyed for a long time now.

 

“In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the petroleum tanker drivers that in addition to ongoing efforts by other agencies, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the road network challenges as expressed by the PTD."

 

AllNews had reported that the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) will commence a nationwide strike action on Monday, over the deplorable state of Nigeria's highways and other issues.

 

Tayo Aboyeji, the South-West Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, in an interview with the press in Lagos said the union has lost many lives and properties due to bad roads.

 

Aboyeji said that all tanker drivers from the union would withdraw their services nationwide.

 

 

“This is not the first time that we will signify our intention to go on strike but we have to call it off because it will generally affect majority of Nigerians but now our hands are tied.

 

“We are going on nationwide strike because of the deplorable and shameful state of our highways.

 

“When a truck loads petrol in Lagos, the drivers spend five to six days to get to Abuja because of the shameful state of the roads.

 

“All calls by the executive of petroleum unions have fallen on the deaf ears of the government as the highways continue to deteriorate nationwide.

 

“The list of the highway are endless and the tanker drivers have been going through harrowing situation while rendering selfless national service.

 

“The increase rate of fire incidences involving petroleum tankers with accompanying massive destruction of lives and properties of our members and general public is enough.

 

“This is because of government's failure to enforce installation of safety gadget on tanker.

 

“This will protect the inflammation contents of their trucks from spilling over in a situation of road accident.

 

“We see the failure of the government in this regards as the height of insensitivity to lives of innocent Nigerians and the union cannot continue to hold its hands while our members are getting burnt everywhere and everyday,” he said.

 

The zonal chairman said the union is not happy with the unscrupulous abuse of tonnage.

 

“There are some trucks that carry 60,000 litres to 100,000 litres on the highway.

 

“This load has a negative effect and impact on the safety and control of drivers on the wheel as well as durability and sustainability of the highway.

 

“The unions do not want any truck to carry more than the approved capacity,” he said.

 

Aboyeji said the union had given notice to the government to put all these to avert the nationwide strike on Monday.

 

“We know that the present administration would not do anything until we start the nationwide strike,” he said.