Petroleum tanker drivers’ arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has concluded plans to embark on an industrial action from October 8, 2021, should the Federal Government fail to address all the contentious issues confronting the union.
It has also directed all the tanker drivers to commence a work-to-rule action from Monday.
The union in a communiqué sighted by Africa Daily News, New York which was signed by the chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch, Salmon Akanni Oladiti, after its executive meeting in Enugu yesterday, listed three actions which bordered on the safety of its members and the Federal Government failure to fulfill its earlier promise.
According to Oladiti, the union at its meeting on March 27, 2021, had drawn government’s attention to the increasing rate of fire incidences involving petroleum trucks with accompanying destruction of lives and properties of its members and the public.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that the union had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike from May 1, but later suspended it.
Oladiti said: ‘Council in session observed with grave concerns and disappointment the deplorable and shameful conditions of the Nigerian highways in spite of several calls and threats we have issued to the various layers of governments.
‘These highways have turned to death traps and dens of truck highjackers for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers. Our members are losing their lives and sources of livelihood on hourly basis.’
He also noted the refusal of the Federal Government to enforce the compulsory installation of safety valve in all petroleum trucks to protect the inflammable contents of trucks from spilling over in a situation of road mishaps.
‘The Council in session sees the failure of the Federal Government in this regard as the height of insensitivity to the lives of innocent Nigerians and the union cannot continue to fold its hands while our members are getting burnt everywhere and everyday,’ he stated.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
