FG moves to avert NUPENG strike as PETROAN, DAPPMAN weigh in

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) says the federal government’s intervention is yielding results in the dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote Refinery.

Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN’s national president, made this known on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday.

“We have called the government to intervene, and that has yielded a lot of positive results. As of yesterday, there has been a lot of consultation going on among the stakeholders and also the regulators,” he said.

“We believe that there will be a solution, and the solution is simple – everybody should be at the table. Let all of us do what we must do cooperatively to ensure that Nigerians are served more efficiently. That’s the whole story.”

His remarks came after NUPENG threatened to “down their tools” and begin sourcing for alternative employment from Monday.

Daily Times reported that the union accused Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Sayyu Dantata, of plotting to create a monopoly that threatens jobs, trade unions, and the economic rights of Nigerians.

On September 7, the federal government appealed to NUPENG to suspend its planned nationwide strike and scheduled a reconciliation meeting for Monday.

NUPENG and PETROAN, in solidarity, announced plans to suspend the lifting and dispensing of petroleum products for three days, starting from September 9.

Gillis-Harry emphasised that monopolies should be discouraged and that all retail outlets should be unionised.

“If not, then you go to a station and buy one litre for maybe N2,000, and then you get to other places and buy for N800, and there will be no sanctions because there is no union for internal control,” he warned.

He also said the planned action was a warning to protect workers’ rights.

“It is not that they have gone on strike. But they are giving a warning that the situation can become very tasking and troublesome for Nigerians. So let us all get it solved, and I think it is the right idea,” he said.

“For PETROAN, don’t forget that the most critical aspect of our operations is our retail outlets staff, and the people who are handling these are in the union. So once the NUPENG strike takes effect, our stations will effectively be locked up.”

DAPPMAN calls for restraint

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has appealed to all parties involved to exercise restraint and embrace dialogue.

“As responsible stakeholders in this vital sector of the Nigerian economy, we recognise the central importance of industrial harmony to the stability of the industry, the protection of jobs, and the sustenance of revenues accruable to the nation,” the association said in a Monday statement signed by Olufemi Adewole, its executive secretary.

“The potential impact of any strike on ordinary Nigerians, businesses, and government finances cannot be overstated. DAPPMAN therefore appeals to all parties involved to exercise utmost restraint and embrace constructive dialogue as the most effective means of resolving disagreements.”

The group also urged the urgent intervention of the federal government to address all concerns.

Petrol distributors distance themselves from strike

Meanwhile, the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has dissociated itself from the proposed strike.

“We, members of ADITOP, hereby inform the general public and the federal government that we dissociate ourselves from any intended strike or disruption by NUPENG and its cohorts,” its national president, Alhaji Lawan Dan-Zaki, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

“We intend to continue moving petroleum products across the country without fear of molestation. ADITOP is in support of any petroleum products distribution scheme aimed at distributing products to the end users seamlessly and promoting economic development.”