For long, Nigerians lived in fear of The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas employees, NUPENG, which embarked on industrial actions at the slightest opportunity. But not any more. Even when the union recently threatened to carry out a nation-wide strike by its Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, division, many Nigerians were not worried. Not surprisingly, the strike was called off even before it actually started.
Igwe Achese, president, NUPENG, announced that the strike had been called off after a meeting with members of the union, the PTD, National Association of Transport Owners and the management of the NNPC, led by Maikanti Baru, its Group Managing Director.
Ndu Ughamadu, group general manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, said Igwe Achese of NUPENG announced the call off of the strike after the meeting, which was led by Baru.
Baru announced that the federal government had approved the increase in the bridging cost allowance to oil marketers in order to ensure adequate transportation of petroleum products across the country from the various depots.
“I’m happy to announce to you that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has just approved the increase in the bridging cost allowance from N6.20 to N7.20. This is a good platform for you all to discuss the issues. We expect that with this, you will call off the strike immediately. I plead with you to ensure that your discussions should be guided by national and not personal interest,” said Baru.
The PTD arm of NUPENG last week threatened to commence a nationwide strike from Monday to draw the attention of the government and other stakeholders to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers, such as bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and the alleged excesses of some security agencies.
But Baru said the review of the bridging cost should give NARTO the breathing space to engage with the tanker drivers to immediately discuss and resolve as many of the issues as possible, adding that the gesture was expected to normalise relations between the unions.