Tanker drivers, filling stations attendants to join October 3 strike – NUPENG

Tanker drivers, filling stations attendants to join October 3 strike – NUPENG

 

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed all its members including tanker drivers to fully comply with October 3 nationwide industrial action.

The strike was declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) over hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

NUPENG said in a statement on Thursday that apart from the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, it had also started mobilising other members such as petrol stations workers; Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers and other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution.

The NUPENG’s statement was signed by its National President and General Secretary, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, respectively.

The statement

Part of the statement read, “Consequent upon the joint resolution of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress as the outcome of the joint National Executive Council meeting of the two labour federations held on September 25, 2023, we wish to inform all our members in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and alert the general public that the rank and file members of our union are hereby directed to commence full mobilisation and ensure unwavering compliance with the directive of the two labour centres to all affiliate unions to embark on a nationwide industrial action from midnight on October 3, 2023.

“The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is aware of the huge impacts a 24-hour industrial action by organised labour can have on businesses and the socio-economic lives of the nation.

“Unfortunately, the government’s actions and inactions are inexorably forcing organised labour to take this very hard and painful route of last resort to demand the needful socio-economic policies to ameliorate and cushion the debilitating and dehumanising living conditions of Nigerians generally.

“Beyond any reasonable doubt, the government has demonstrated high insensitivity and a lack of respect and regard for organised labour and the Nigerian masses.

“Therefore, it is in light of the above that NUPENG, as a responsive and responsible affiliate union of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), will fully comply with the resolution of the joint NEC meeting, and we hereby direct the leaders in the four (4) zonal councils of our great union to mobilise all our members in the formal and informal sectors to shut down services effective October 3, 2023.

“All NUPENG members, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Petrol Stations Workers (PSW), Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers (LPGAR), and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution, must comply with this directive from midnight of Tuesday, 3rd October 2023.

“All branches and units of our union are to take note and ensure full compliance by setting up compliance and monitoring teams in all operational locations.”