by Dolapo Adelana

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has said the planned indefinite strike by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers arm of the union will commence as scheduled today (Monday).

The Chairman, NUPENG, South-West Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, told The Punch that, “The strike will hold on Monday. We have not received any positive response from the government.”

To avert the strike, the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will meet with the Petroleum Tankers Drivers and the National Association of Transport Owners today (Monday) in Abuja.

The NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the national oil firm’s boss had scheduled a meeting with officials of the PTD and NARTO for 3pm on Monday.

Ughamadu said, “We have been engaging them and we are scheduled to have a meeting with both sides at 3pm at the Towers (NNPC headquarters) tomorrow (Monday). Both sides are NARTO and the tanker drivers. You know the tanker drivers have grievances with their employers. Their employers are NARTO members.

“The grievances expressed by the tanker drivers have to do with their welfare and also they are talking of bad roads. But these issues have been on for a while, so we are meeting with them to iron out things.”

When asked if the meeting would lead to a suspension of the strike, Ughamadu replied, “Let’s take a step after another and hold on until we see them tomorrow. After the meeting, we can give you updated information.”