The National Union of Oil and Gas Workers (NUPENG) said on Sunday that the strike planned by its affiliated members, the Oil Tanker Drivers (PTD), had been suspended.
The strike, which reportedly began on Monday, has been suspended due to federal government intervention.
Mr. Tayo Aboyeji, the president of the southwest area of NUPENG, revealed this in an interview with the Nigeria News Agency in Lagos.
According to Aboyeji, the suspension should allow union and government representatives to resolve the thorny issues at stake.
“The union leadership after a brief meeting with government officials decided to suspend the strike in the interests of the nation.
“The meeting with the government continues throughout the week with the assurance that union grievances will be dealt with positively,” he said.
reports that NUPENG said on Saturday that tanker drivers would start strike on Monday over the country’s deplorable state of highways and other issues.
Aboyeji said the union lost many lives and property due to poor road conditions.
“This is not the first time that we will signal our intention to strike, but we have to cancel it as it will usually affect the majority of Nigerians, but now our hands are tied,” he said.
Also reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday called on drivers to immediately suspend their planned strike so as not to further harm the economy and Nigerians in general.
NNPC spokesperson Mr. Garba Deen appealed in a statement in Abuja.
“Although it is not the responsibility of the NNPC to build or rehabilitate the roads, the national oil company believes that any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products in different parts of Nigeria will negatively affect the activities of the NNPC.
“It will also endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyed in recent times.
“In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the tanker drivers that in addition to the continued efforts of other government agencies, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and efficient solution to road network challenges such as expressed by the PTD, ”he said.
“We urge PTD to immediately call off the (planned) strike and give the current efforts of the government and its agencies a chance to resolve the issues for the benefit of all.
“We also want to urge Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as NNPC has enough stocks to last through this holiday season and beyond,” he said. .
