by Azeez Adeniyi

Petroleum tanker drivers, a branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) on Friday threatened to go on an indefinite strike starting from Monday, over poor working conditions.

NUPENG President, Igwe Achese made the announcement after the meeting of NUPENG Central Working Committee, CWC, in Lagos.

Achese said all efforts not to go on strike has been frustrated by government agencies.

He said the national secretariat of NUPENG had pleaded with the tanker drivers not to embark on the strike last week Monday.

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Achese said all letters and appeals to government agencies have been futile.

He said: “The CWC-in-Session examined the various complaints and agitations of Petroleum Tanker Drivers members of the union over their deplorable working conditions with regards to poor remuneration, insecurity on the highways, poor state of roads, absence of conducive rest places on the highways and the excesses of some security agencies, most especially, the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps.

“The CWC-in-Session considered inhumane, the refusal of National Association of Road Transport Owner (NARTO) to commence negotiation with the union for the renewal of the expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on the working conditions of our Tanker Drivers members in PTD Branch after several appeals and even ultimatum.

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“The CWC-in-Session therefore resolved to give full backing to any industrial action the members in this sector might decide to take with effect from Monday, April 3, 2017. To avert the pains and discomfort the action might cause, the CWC–in- Session calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and apprehend the unfortunate situation to enable NARTO meets its obligations to Tanker Drivers.”