NUPENG to resume suspended strike over N621bn road misappropriation fund
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to resume its suspended strike without further notice thereby worsening current fuel crisis in the country.
The union said the strike was in reaction to the alleged misappropriation of N621 billion earmarked for the construction of 21 roads across the country.
The union in a statement jointly signed by the President, Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said the union already had the mandate of its National Executive Council (NEC) to commence immediate mobilization of all its members for resumption of its earlier suspended action.
The union recalled earlier ultimatum issued after its meeting last year’s September on the deplorable state of the federal highways and the painful experiences of its members while carrying out their duties across the country.
It has listed among other things, conditions of work for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers due to high cost of operations and low freight rates.
“The management team of NNPC under Mallam Mele Kyari immediately apprehended the situation then to avert the situation of industrial action of the Union, by calling the leadership of the Union to two separate meetings on the 10th of October, 2021 in Ibadan and 12th October, 2021 in Abuja.
“In attendance at the 12th October were critical Stakeholders such as the FIRS, FRSC, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners and NUPENG.
These two meetings resulted into signing of communique indicating the readiness and willingness of NNPC to finance the rehabilitation of identified 21 critical roads at an estimated sum of N621 Billion through Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme,” the statement said.
NUPENG said it suspended the intended industrial action due to that intervention. But stated that it was very clear in its statement, that should the spirit and letter of the agreement not fully implemented with focus on those jointly identified critical roads or attempt is made to divert the funds, the Union will not give further warning to resume the intended actions.
It stated, “Unfortunately, our worst fear concerning the struggle is gradually unfolding with information coming out from reliable sources that some elements in the garbs of being State Governments, Officials of Ministry of Works and Housing and desperate Politicians are already dipping their soiled hands into these funds and diverting them to roads already budgeted for and done since last year.
“The officials of Ministry of Works and Housing are going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the 621 Billion Naira which was approved in October, 2021 for the identified 21 critical roads.
“We have our facts and figures, and we shall not be cowed into allowing the 621 Billion Naira to go same way others budgeted funds have gone.”
The union however said it is demanding immediate halt to further release of the fund until: A competent monitoring and validation team comprising all those Stakeholders that signed the Communique is formed.
Also demanded the pre award pictures of the 21 Identified roads are taken, which will be compared with pictures of post repairs/reconstruction situation.
It maintained that, “the 621 Billion Naira was approved because of our demand and struggle therefore, we owe our members and the general public the responsibility to ensure that every kobo of the approved fund is accounted for.
Taxpayers’ money must be accounted for.”
Equally called for immediate review of transport freight rates to reflect the operational realities of the petroleum distribution value chain.
The union added, “The leadership of our Union is seriously concerned and disturbed over the press statements of the National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers on Wednesday, 8th February, 2022 and the President of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) on Thursday, 10th February, 2021.
“These press statements fully explain the reasons behind the increasing deterioration of health and safety provisions for Petroleum Tanker Drivers on the wheels and the rising number of roads and fire accidents involving the Petroleum Trucks across the Country.
“In as much as we understand the unfortunate situation the Transporters have found themselves, NUPENG, as a responsible and responsive Trade Union Organization cannot afford to sit idle and watch her able bodied members continued to be wasted away as sacrificial items as well as the wanton destruction of millions of public lives and properties, so as to manage the operational costs by transporters due to inadequate freight rates being paid to them.
“Many of our members have constantly been lodging complaints of being forced to drive with worn out tyres and other unsafe vehicular parts thereby putting their safety at high risk.
“More worrisome is the fact that the conditions of work of these drivers have remained same for more than six years now and the Transporters have been foot dragging in committing to a revised Collective Bargaining Agreement for the
SUPPORT OUR DREAM.”
The union pleaded with the general public to bear with its members as its action may resume without further notice and that these issues raised are of and should be of national concerns, adding that an injury to one is an injury to all.
“We urge every patriotic Nigerians to also rise up and join us in this struggle, this is not a fight for NUPENG alone, it is our collective fight,” it stated.
