By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Commercial drivers and some commuters in Lokoja, Kogi state capital,have louded the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), for suspending its strike bordering on maintenance of minimum safety on the nation’s highways.
The Reporters Correspondent reports that the strike would have commenced on mid night Sunday of October 10, but the timely intervention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), through mutual understanding, averted it.
Extractive360, an online publication reports that the outcome of the meeting between the two parties,and the expected outcome of a follow up meeting coming up on 12, October 12 in Abuja will determine the next steps of the Union, according to Communique at the end of the meeting..
However, the communiqué, signed by Comrade William Akporeha and Comrade Afolabi Olawale, President and General Secretary of NUPENG, said that the suspension of the planned action was predicated on belief of the union that the understanding reached with the government as well as at meeting to be held on Tuesday would be fulfilled to the letters.
“We wish to clearly make it known to all well meaning Nigerians that have variously appealed to us on these issues that our plan was not intended to inflict further pains on Nigerians but to ensure observance of minimum safety on our highways for the good of lives and properties.
“We are well aware of the impacts our actions usually have on the people, businesses and the nation at large but we cannot continue to watch as things continue to degenerate in our industry,” the Union said in the communiqué.
The union, however warned that it would not hesitate to re-commence the action without any notice, if the understandings reached in the two meetings were not fully implemented within the time frame agreed.
It,therefore, directed its members to continue providing efficient and effective distribution of petroleum products to homes and workplaces across the country.
The drivers,who spoke with the Correspondent of The Reporters, an online publication in the state capital on Monday in Lokoja, described the suspension as a big relief to them and other motoring public.
According to Musa Audu, an Ankpa-based driver but plies Lokoja road, said,” Honestly, when I heard of the proposed strike by NUPENG, I was very much concerned because I know the harship such developmnt usually bring to bear on members of the public, especially drivers and commuters.
” Thank God, the union has suspended the strike, let all the parties involved in the issues led to the motive behind the suspended strike use the period of the suspension to enter into negotiation, to avoid another strike,” he advised.
Another driver, who preferred to remain anonymous, called on the three tiers of government in the country to repair all the deplorable roads, to ease the traumatic being experienced by drivers and commuters while on journey.
Barely 24 hours to the strike,NNPC had urged NUPENG members to call off their planned strike, pledging to invest in the rehabilitation of critical roads across the country.
NUPENG members, justifying the rationale for the suspended strike said that that it took about five to six days for a petrol tanker to move from Lagos to Abuja, due to the “shameful state of the roads”.
But NNPC in a statement on Sunday by its Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, urged the drivers to stay action on the planned strike in the interest and welfare of the Nigerian people.
The Corporation stated that though it was not its responsibility to build or rehabilitate roads, any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria would adversely affect its business and endanger energy security, which the country has been enjoying for a long time now.
“In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the Petroleum Tanker Drivers that in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the roads network challenges as expressed by the PTD.
“Having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds, the NNPC has expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of select Federal roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme.
“The thrust of the NNPC’s intervention is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through it Future Tax Liability.
“NNPC as a responsible corporate entity recognises the legitimate concerns of the PTD, we however appeal to the leadership and members to reconsider their decision in the overall national interest”, Muhammad added.
NNPC appealed to the union to call off the strike notice and give the current efforts by government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all.
“We also wish to strongly advice Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products,as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive seasoned and beyond,” the management said.
Additional sources by Extractive 360 and Vanguard.
