Menu

NUPENG

NUPENGG

NUPENG, PTD discuss reports of strike

, ,

Abuja, Nov. 21, 2023: The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch (PTD), have jointly dismissed reports of threats to embark on a nationwide strike.

NUPENG General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said there was no plan whatsoever by the petroleum tanker drivers to protest over leadership tussle.

He also said there was no division in the union as being speculated by some individuals and their sponsors, adding that the report was false and unfounded and should be disregarded.

The general secretary said the motive of those behind the speculation was to create panic in the public space and cause artificial scarcity of petroleum products.

Afolabi tasked security agencies to fish out those behind the reports which he said was capable of creating social upheaval and security concerns.

He explained that the statement was to avert any form of panic and to ask members of the public to ignore the false and misleading report.

The secretary general assured that all petroleum tanker drivers were fully committed to national services for effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.

“We earnestly call on security agencies to urgently fish out the writer of this very misleading and panic creating news items.

“Make them face the full wrath of the law if they cannot prove the source and authority of the fake news which is very capable of creating social upheaval,” Afolabi said.

The PTD branch of NUPENG National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, said the report was being spread to create panic in the supply chain of petroleum products distribution in the country.

The chairman maintained that there was no division within the union’s rank and therefore, no need for any form of protests.

“The PTD-NUPENG wishes to alert the general public of the antics of some desperate and mischievous individuals to cause unfounded and dangerous panic in the supply chain of petroleum products distribution in the country.

“This they are doing through spreading of fake and false news items, petroleum tanker drivers are not embarking on any form of protest.

“We are determined to continue our services to the nation and whole heartedly support the efforts of the government of President Bola Tinubu to put our economy on the right track for the good of all,” he said.

The chairman added that the unity of the union’s workers could never be defeated.

Egbon implored the general public to ignore every mischief maker and called on security agencies to fully investigate the panic-creating news reports.

This, he said, was especially because citizens were already going through enough tough times and situations.

NUPENGG

Strike: NUPENG mobilses members to shut down on Oct. 3

, ,

Lagos, Sept. 29, 2023: The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed its members in the formal and informal sector of the oil and gas industry to shut down services effective Oct. 3, 2023.

NUPENG’s President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, gave the direction in a statement on Thursday.

“Consequent upon the joint resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) as the outcome of the joint NEC meeting of the two Labour Federation, held on 26th September,

2O23.

“We wish to inform all our members in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigeria oil and gas industry and alert the general public that the rank and file members of our union are hereby directed to commence full mobilisation.

“Also ensure an unwavering compliance with the directive of the two labour centres to all affiliate industrial unions to embark on a nationwide industrial action from midnight of 3rd October, 2023, “ the duo said.

It stated that all NUPENG members, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Petrol Stations Workers, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers, and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution must comply with the directive from midnight of Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

Both leaders said the union was aware of the huge impact a 24 hours industrial action by the organised labour could have on businesses and socio-economic lives of the nation.

“Unfortunately, the government’s actions and inactions are inextricably forcing the organised labour to take this very hard and painful route of last resort to demand for needful socio-economic policies to ameliorate and cushion the debilitating and dehumanising living conditions of Nigerians generally, “ the leaders said.

NLC and TUC had in a joint conference held on Sept. 26, 2023 declared an indefinite strike across the country on Oct. 3, 2023 in protest against government’s delay in providing palliatives to cushion the economic hardship resulting from the fuel subsidy removal.

NUPENGG

Nigeria unaware of NUPENG’s strike threat

,

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has said it was not yet aware of the plans made by a unit of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers.

The spokesperson for the ministry, Olajide Oshundun, made this known in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday.

The Petroleum Tankers Drivers, a branch of NUPENG, had threatened to embark on strike over harassment by security officials.

The Chairperson of Petrol Tanker Drivers under the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers,Lucky Osesua, said the union would stop lifting products at its Port Harcourt zone by Monday, January 9.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Osesua alleged that men of the Nigerian military burnt down two trucks conveying high pour fuel oil popularly known as black oil while in transit from Imo State to Delta State.

He further warned that the decision to suspend operations would stand until the damage incurred as a result of the high-handedness of the military task force was addressed.

But reacting to the threat of strike, the labour ministry’s spokesperson, Oshundun, said, “Normally, they are to notify the ministry but I don’t think they have done that. However, they have a national body they report to, so they will take care of the matter. They can’t just decide to go on strike, there is a process to it.

Punch

NUPENGG

Lagos state as NUPENG calls off proposed strike

,

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) called off its proposed strike before the Nov. 6 ultimatum following the intervention of Lagos State government.

Mr Tayo Aboyeji, Lagos Chairman of NUPENG, said on Tuesday that the intervention of the state government halted the planned strike by the union.

Aboyeji said the state government had directed community youths under the aegis of Indigenous Unity Forum, to desist from disturbing tanker drivers operating on Lekki Free Trade Zone Road, in Eleko Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

NUPENG on Oct. 31 threatened to withdraw the services of its members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) in Lagos State due to harassment and threats to their lives by some hoodlums operating on the road.

The union, in a letter to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-OIu, noted that all efforts to resist the hoodlums had been met with stiff resistance.

According to the union, this has continued unabated and resulted to assault, inflicting bodily injuries to the members of the union and damages to their trucks.

Aboyeji, said union members had resumed operations in the axis pending when the issues were finally resolved.

“For now, we are still watching the activities in that area and we hope the state government will put an end to the harassment.

“Our ultimatum to embark on strike from Nov. 6 midnight has expired due to the intervention of the state government,” he said.

The NUPENG helmsman said a letter was written to the governor expressing the union’s challenges over the harassment of its members by youths in the community.

Aboyeji alleged that the criminal tendencies of the group extended as far as impersonating, and forging NUPENG/PTD official emblem and identity cards.

“The group extorts money from members, assaults and threatens anyone that questions or resists them or the source of their authority to perpetrate these criminal and illegal activities along the Lekki Free Trade Zone Road, Eleko Ibeju-Lekki.

“The union has written to several authorities including security agencies, but this group appears to be operating above the laws of the state and the country,” he said.

He urged the state government to resolve the issue and restore sanity to the route so as to protect the lives and property of his members.

petrol

NUPENG gives marketers ultimatum on official rate of petrol

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has given a 24-hour ultimatum to oil marketers to revert to the official rate of N148.77 to avoid sanction.

NUPENG’s President, Mr Williams Akporeha, gave the warning in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

“We are giving these marketers 24 hours, with effect from midnight of Feb.27, to revert to official rate of N148.77 or we shall name and shame them as public enemies aside from other sanctions,” Akporeha said.

He said it was regrettable that some unidentified oil marketers were exploiting Nigerians by selling Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) from the depots at prices far above the official rate.

“Our attention and empathy have been drawn to the harrowing experiences and pains of the general public due to the exploitative and unscrupulous activities and tendencies of petroleum products marketers.

“These marketers are taking advantage of the seeming gaps and teething challenges in the implementation of Petroleum Industry Act to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.

“It is an undeniable fact that PMS is still under subsidy regime, and we find it worrisome that these marketers are selling PMS from the depots at prices far above the official rate,” he said..

The union leader called for some measures to checks and control the prices of Automotive Gas Oil Turbine Kerosene and Dual Purpose Kerosene in spite of being deregulated.

According to him, if this is not done, the entire productive activities will be grounded.

He directed union officials in all the zones to start compiling lists of petrol stations in the habit of hoarding products during the day and selling at nights at exorbitant rates for possible sanctions.

“These also includes; petroleum products depots that may want to be hoarding products because of our decision on this matter.

“The union cannot continue to watch as some cabals keep on exploiting the people and the nation,’” he stressed.

Akporeha urged the general public to bear with the union in whatever actions it deemed necessary against the exploiters.

NUPENGG

Bad roads spur NUPENG’s strike on Monday

, 0

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) will commence strike on Monday over the deplorable state of the nation’s highways and other issues.

Mr Tayo Aboyeji, the South-West Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, 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 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 height of insensitivity to lives of innocent Nigerians and 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 in order 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.