21 Critical Road Project: NARTO, NUPENG-PTD Suspend Planned Strike Action As NNPC Intervenes

…..Parties Pledge Collaboration on Ensuring Nation Wide Availability of Petroleum Products

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, and Petroleum Tankers Drivers have suspended its planned strike action after the intervention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

According to a communiqué on critical stakeholders’ engagement between NARTO, PTD, NUPENG, NMDPRA, and NNPC Ltd on Thursday, 17th February 2022 At NNPC Towers, the parties resolved as follows:

Road Rehabilitation

NNPC provided updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects under the road infrastructure tax credit scheme and assured the stakeholders (NUPENG, NARTO, and PTD) that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only.

To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of road projects.

Review of freight rate for transporters

The stakeholders requested for completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs and highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in light of current economic realities.

NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which include PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.

All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government. The Authority to advise on a definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022.

Collaboration on ensuring nationwide availability of petroleum products

All parties agreed to work closely to ensure the efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.

The communiqué was jointly signed by National Chairman PTD, Otunba S. A. Oladiti; NARTO President, Mr. Yusuf Otthman; NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha; ED F&A, NMDPRA, Abiodun Adeniji, and the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kolo Kyari

Recall that the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers on Monday, 14th February 2022 declared its support for the imminent industrial action by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG and announced that it had started mobilizing members of the union for the sudden strike.

NUPENG also claimed that its investigations revealed that officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing were currently diverting the N621bn provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for the rehabilitation of 21 critical highways.

They disclosed this in a statement jointly signed on Sunday by the President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, adding that agreements reached on the matter with the government and other stakeholders in two separate meetings were not upheld.