Petroleum tanker drivers suspend nationwide strike

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Monday suspended its ongoing strike to allow for further dialogue with the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The decision was taken at a meeting between the NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, and members of the union, PTD, the National Association of Transport Owners and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), led by its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru.

At the meeting, the NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru, announced that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has approved an increase of tanker drivers’ bridging allowance from 6.20 Naira to 7.20 Naira.

Spokesperson for the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, confirmed the suspension of the strike. Also, NUPENG president, Igwe Achese, said the strike action had to be suspended in the interest of the country and also to allow for further negotiations and discussions.

Recall that NUPENG president, Igwe Achese, in justifying the strike, on Friday, 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 Defense 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, April 3, 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,” he said.

Before the suspension of the strike, tanker drivers earlier on Monday halted all forms of loading activities at the Apapa station in Lagos.

From situation on ground at the Apapa port on Monday, although tankers were spotted driving into the arena in hope to load petrol, yet NUPENG members were spotted blocking all forms of activities at the port.

Tanker drivers on ground spoke with The Daily Times earlier on Monday. According to one Musa Mohammed, “the lives of tanker drivers are no longer safe. We risk our lives to make petrol available in the country, yet, we face all sorts of risks while on the job”.

Another driver, Dabo Akinwunmi lamented that the Federal Government needs to put structures in place to protect tanker drivers.

“We need good roads. Our lives have to be insured. We don’t get paid good money for all the risks we take. No security on the road, we sleep inside our tankers, upon that security agencies victimise and extort us. We have had enough of the nonsense. We will not load petrol until Buhari attends to us”, he said