PTD – NUPENG threatens strike over seizure of loaded trucks by security operatives
Agency Report
The Petroleum Tankers Drivers Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( PTD- NUPENG ) has said it will ask its members to withdraw their trucks from depots.
National Chairman of the Union, Augustine Egbon said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, adding that the decision followed the shortfall in supply of petroleum products across the country,.
He said the action which could paralyse loading of petroleum products and ultimately scarcity at retail outlets, was to protest the excesses of the Task Force set up by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The PTD-NUPENG at its recent NEC meeting in Port Harcourt, appealed to the IGP to curb the high-handedness of its task force on petroleum products impounding tankers on federal highways.
Egbon recalled that two trucks loaded with Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were wrongly impounded by the Task Force between July and August in Funtua, Katsina State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said in spite of the documents presented to the Task Force to show the depots they were loaded from and evidence of genuine certification by the statutory regulatory agencies, they were still impounded.
Egbon expressed dissatisfaction that in spite of the fact that samples of the products from the two trucks were certified by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Products Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA) they were impounded.
He added that the IGP office had ignored overwhelming evidence and had refused to release the trucks.
He said after several representations to the office of the IGP, the union was being pushed to the wall with no other option than to ask its members to withdraw their services.
Egbon said the IGP office had continued to ignore the union, even after it had presented authentic documents to the police to show that the products and the point of loading were genuine.
He added that at its last meeting, the union issued a deadline demanding for the release of the impounded trucks and a stoppage to the continued harassment of its members on the highway.
“We have been making our contributions to assist the Federal Government in its genuine efforts to make petroleum products available and ease the sufferings of Nigerians.
“It is unfortunate that the office of the IGP is unmindful of the threat that the excesses of its men constitute to Federal Government’s determined efforts.
“To promote effective distribution of petroleum products and peace in the industry,we are giving another two weeks notice.
“Failure to heed our demand by the office of the IGP, we will stop loading of petroleum products from the depots,”,he said.(https:newsatlarge.ng)