12 July 2008
Lagos — Indications emerged yesterday that economic and social activities in the country might soon be crippled, following the suspension of lifting of petroleum products from depots by Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), an affiliate of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The group on Wednesday began a nationwide industrial action to protest the rising price of diesel and deplorable condition of the nation's public highways, which includes access roads to the refineries.
NUPENG had issued a seven day ultimatum to the federal government to address the issue of soaring diesel price, which currently hovers between N170 and N200 per litre as well as deplorable condition of the nation's highways, which the group noted was responsible for most of the accidents that have claimed the lives of some its members and destroyed their trucks and other valuable property.
But following the expiration of the warning notice, coupled with the inability of parties to reach an accord, the drivers resolved Wednesday to commence the action pending when their demands would be met.
THISDAY checks yesterday at the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association depots, as well as the private depots, revealed that there was no lifting of products as the drivers complied fully with the no-work directive.
A highly placed PPMC source told THISDAY last night that "not even a tanker loaded at the PPMC depot" as all pleas to the drivers fell on deaf ears.
Describing the action as senseless, the source questioned the justification of the action since the PTD are merely employees of the National Association of Road Transport Owner (NARTO), who are owners of the vehicles and buy diesel at the said rate.
He regretted that the group was holding Nigerians to ransom and urged that something urgently needed be done to check the incessant action by PTD.
When contacted last night, both the NUPENG national president, Comrade Peter Akpatason and zonal secretary, Tokunbo Korodo endorsed the action, saying it is high time government took steps to address the issues complained about.
Akpatason, in a statement forwarded to THISDAY, lamented that for so long, PTD leadership has cried out over the issues affecting their membership without these issues addressed by relevant government agencies. According to him, "it is in our character to always carry along the nation at large on whatever issues confronting our members and the intended cause of action to be taken." He added that the nonchallant attitude of government to their plight led to the issuance of a 21-day ultimatum, which expired at the end of May.
The statement read: "The national secretariat intervened and suspended the strike action to give a window of opportunity to enable government respond to the demands of tanker drivers. This suspension did not produce the desired result and this led to a further ultimatum with effect from July 3, 2008, which expired at midnight on July 9 2008. Some of the issues at stake include the high cost of diesel, which has made petroleum products distribution unprofitable. And as a result of that, truck owners are packing their trucks, while industries driven by generators are closing shops and the Nigerians workers in general."
The NUPENG President, who described as unacceptable a situation where the price of AGO (diesel) at NNPC ex-depot is N60.15 per litre, while same is sold at between N150 and N200 per litre at the filling stations, called for the removal of all non-value adding middlemen from the supply chain and an increase in allocation to only marketers with retail outlets to ensure availability of products to end users. "The union is opposed to any form of increase in the price of AGO because of the supply manipulation,' he added.
On his part, Korodo vowed that the strike action would continue until government sees reason to alleviate the sufferings of members of the association, who he said have been in depressing conditions over the years. While restating NUPENG's full support to the action by PTD, Korodo noted that the drivers embarked on the industrial action as a last resort since government has failed to meet their demands.
"NUPENG is giving tanker drivers full support because before the commencement of the industrial action, PTD had series of meetings with the National Association of Road Transport Owner (NARTO) on the issue of salary adjustment, which is the main thing. But no incentive was given, the reason being that, NARTA maintained that government has not increased their freight rate, as such, they would not increase the take-home pay of tanker drivers or give any additional incentive", he said.
Following the warning notice issued by the association, Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) and the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Abubarkar Yar'Adua had series of meetings with the leadership of NUPENG to halt the strike. The parties, it was learnt failed to reach an accord at Wednesday's meet, prompting the association to go ahead with strike. It was however learnt that the meeting would continue next week.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
