NUPENG Suspends Tanker Drivers’ Strike

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has directed its Petroleum Tankers Drivers to suspend its ongoing strike in Lagos state.

The union came to the decision on Monday after meeting with representatives of the state government.

According to a Communique jointly signed by the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and the Deputy National President of NUPENG, Solomon Kilanko, seven agreements reached by the union and the government led to the suspension of the industrial action.

Recall that on Friday the tanker drivers had raised issues relating to the failure of various authorities in the state to address three major issues that had severely caused petroleum tanker drivers pains in the state for several months .

Some of the issues causing dissatisfaction between the state and NUPENG are extortion by security agencies; menace of Container Trucks at Apapa, Kirikiri and Beach Land axis of Lagos State and harassment as well as extortion by Area Boys and Area god-fathers.

The union had said its members were deeply pained, frustrated and agonised by the barrage of these challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State.

This, it stated, had left them with no other option but to direct the withdrawal of services of tanker drivers.

However, both parties resolved on Monday that the State Government would meet with the heads of all security agencies and secure their commitment to ensuring the free passage of petroleum products vehicles given their importance to the economy.

On its part, NUPENG promised to ensure all tankers load within the capacities provided and communicated by the Department of Petroleum Resources.

The communique reads in part, “Lagos State will, within the next one week, review the restriction of the timing of movement of the petroleum tankers and advise a resolution to ease their access to the tank farms.

“Union also notes that the ongoing road works are a temporary inhibitor of movement.

“Lagos State government will immediately set up a standing committee to relate with the union on an ongoing basis to address any issues as they arise.”