Indications are that Nigeria may be plunged into another round of fuel scarcity as a result of the decision of PETROLEUM Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of the Nigeria Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, down tools. The Union issued the threat that it will begin a nationwide indefinite strike from Monday, cutting off fuel
supplies across the country over poor working conditions.
President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese who announced this after the
meeting of NUPENG Central Working Committee, CWC, in Lagos, said that all efforts to avert the strike had been ignored by government
agencies.
According to him, the strike would have started last week Monday, but the
national secretariat of NUPENG, pleaded with members of the PTD to
shelve the action while NUPENG’s leadership sought for government’s
intervention, lamenting that despite all letters, meetings and appeals
to government agencies for intervention, nothing positive has been done.
Achese said that the conditions of service of PTD members expired
three years years ago, but their employers, the National Association of
Road Transport Owners, NARTO, had refused to effect a renewal,
insisting that PTD members had been passing through hardships and
other difficulties including threat to their lives to ensure
uninterrupted products supplies nationwide.
He said: “The CWC-in-Session examined the various complaints and
agitations of Petroleum Tanker Drivers members of the union over their
deplorable working conditions with regards to poor remuneration,
insecurity on the highways, poor state of roads, absence of conducive
rest places on the highways and the excesses of some security
agencies, most especially, the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps.
“The CWC-in-Session considered inhumane, the refusal of National
Association of Road Transport Owner (NARTO) to commence negotiation
with the union for the renewal of the expired Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) on the working conditions of our Tanker Drivers
members in PTD Branch after several appeals and even ultimatum. The
CWC-in-Session therefore resolved to give full backing to any
industrial action the members in this sector might decide to take with
effect from Monday 3rd of April 2017.
To avert the pains and discomfort the action might cause, the CWC –in
– Session calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and
apprehend the unfortunate situation to enable NARTO meets its
obligations to Tanker Drivers.”
On the issue of Capital Oil, Achese said: “The C.W.C-in-Session
received with deep concern the reports in the news media about attempt
to declare all workers in the Capital Oil Depot, including hapless
Tanker Drivers redundant over issue of fraud they know nothing about.
The CWC-in- Session therefore advice the Federal government and the
NNPC to adopt pragmatic approach in resolving the issues in such a
manner that will not lead to job losses to avoid industrial unrest in
the industry that may lead to scarcity of petroleum products in the
country.”
Speaking on other issues raised at the meeting, he said among others,
“The CWC-in-Session notes the current calls and agitation by some
interested capitalists for the privatization of the nation’s four
refineries. We kick against such moves and advise the Federal
Government to sincerely do the Turn-Around-Maintenance (TAM) of the
refineries and upgrade their systems in order to allow them produce at
full capacity. The CWC believes that this will go a long way to reduce
the massive importation of petroleum products into the country.
The CWC-in-Session also calls on the Federal Government to grant tax
holidays and free land for investors who want to establish private
refineries. The CWC-in-Session commends the Federal Government
position to encourage operators of illegal refineries to be integrated
into establishment of modular refineries. The CWC –in – Session
advice that the pronouncement should not be political but matched with
actions to train the Refiners, put appropriate policies and
regulations in place to regulate their operations in order to protect
the eco system from possible negative effects of their activities.
The Council –in- Session further urge the Federal Government to
support the Refiners with funds necessary for effective and efficient
modular refineries which we believe will go a long way in supporting
the supply of Petroleum Products for local consumption and also
generate employment opportunities for the restless youths.”
