BREAKING: Tanker Drivers Call Off Strike

The Petrol tanker drivers arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called off its strike.

This was made known by NUPENG president, Igwe Achese, following an extensive meeting with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Government and NUPENG leadership in Abuja on Monday.

At the meeting, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru announced that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has approved an increase of tankers drivers bridging allowance from N6.20 to N7.20, which was the core demand of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD).

It will be recalled that NUPEN on Sunday announced an indefinite strike which began on Monday (today).

According to the body, Petroleum Tanker Drivers had been mobilised to ensure no movement of petroleum tankers across the country following the planned action.

The South-West Chairman of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said the drivers were forced to embark on the strike action due to unresolved issues concerning their welfare, poor remuneration, insecurity and bad roads,’’ Korodo said.

“The tanker drivers for the past three years have been appealing to the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to increase their salary but they refused on the ground that spare parts had increased.

“NARTO said that government has not increased their fares, so they will not increase their salary.

“Apart from this, most of the roads they ply are bad and this has resulted in accidents or damaging their trucks.

“The activities of the official of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the roads is not helping the matter.’’