Relating Stories
• NUPENG says strike is
indefinite
• No TSS, no end to strike
—NUT
• NACCIMA honours Ogunbanjo,
Yusuf
…says Nigeria now generator generation
By ANDREW OJIEZEL
UNLESS urgent step is taken, the President Umaru Yar'Adua's administration
may be engulfed with crises as National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Workers (NUPENG), began its vowed indefinite strike.
Just as it lamented that the rising price of kerosene and diesel was becoming
unbearable, it deplored the status of diesel as the only means of survival
after the Power Holding Company of Nigeria's (PHCN) has turned Nigeria into
generator generation. NUPENG urged FG to tackle the energy problem if the
2020 vision is set to succeed.
The General Secretary of the union, Elijah Okougbo lamented that the union
was tired waiting in vain for government to meet its demands. He explained
that the current teachers' strike would be like a child's play compare with
that of NUPENG, saying unless FG meets the demands of the union, transportation
of petroleum products nationwide would be grand to halt.
He lamented that the union has watched with keen interest to see if government
would deal with rising cost of food items, of diesel and other infrastructures
nationwide.
“There is no light from the national grid for people to use at home
and place of work, the diesel and kerosene being relied upon by citizenry
for self-generated light has gone out of the reach of the ordinary Nigerian,
we must force government to act now.
Also in letter of protest written to the Federal Government through Minister
of State Energy and Petroleum Resources, copied Secretary to the Federal Government,
Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Group Managing Director,
NNPC Corporate Headquarters, Director General Security Service, Managing Director,
PPMC, President/General Secretary Nigeria Labour Congress and the National
Chairman, PTD Branch of NUPENG, signed by Okougbo, stated “this is to
inform you that the petroleum tanker drivers branch of the National Union
of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has given a seven day notice
to commence industrial action to protest the non-implementation of the agreements
its officers entered into with government a few weeks ago.
“We are compelled to approve of the strike because of the lethargic
role of government officials and petroleum marketers who sustain the price
of automotive gas oil (AGO) that ranges between N150 per litre to N170 per
litre at petrol filling stations undermining the fact that the diesel drives
the engine of industry and national development.”
According to the union scribe, the plan to embark on strike earlier by the
union was suspended to give room to the Federal Government to address some
of the needs by the union. The failure of government and its agencies to address
the demands was a sign that Okougbo, expressed the sadness of the union to
note that NUPENG has lost lives of some of its members, tankers and their
contents to bad roads in recent times.
He disclosed that the union has severally informed government of bad states
of roads across the country, especially deplorable state of public highways
and dilapidated access to oil installations in different parts of the country.
Roads are no more motor-able, and supply and distribution of petroleum products
have been hindered because of those roads which are now dilapidated, our roads
have turned to gullies, it is unfortunate that we have not seen any reasonable
development to the economic growth of this nation and we have not seen any
meaningful impact that would help the masses since the inception of democracy.
The escalating price of AGO is giving us much worry because of the great difference
in the price from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of N65 to
N69 and the selling price of N150 t N170 in some states. The price is becoming
unbearable to Nigerians in view of the dependence of Nigerians on diesel to
run their generators at home and offices.
Diesel is used to propel the engine of growth, there is no light, and people
now rely on generator as Nigeria has become generator generation. Why is it
that the people-dependence product is being made to rise daily? People are
now paying through their nose to get diesel and we will no longer tolerate
this.
And now the condition of service of petroleum drivers will soon expire, we
submitted a proposal to National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO)
to come to the bargaining table, but they stated that unless there price brought
down of AGO and something is done about the deplorable roads because they
were losing their members and trucks to the deplorable roads, they will not
come to negotiate.
He stressed that what NUPENG expects is government's regulation of the prices
of all petroleum products to ensure that they are not sold above the recommended
prices.
Citing the instance of kerosene, which is now being sold at N50 by African
Petroleum (AP), the union spokesman urged Federal Government to do all it
could to make the product available to Nigerians at cheaper price in all filling
stations because AP alone will not be able to cope as it is being experienced
now.
Similarly Okougbo appealed to Federal Government to revive Nigeria Railways
Corporation (NRC) to bail the roads from heavy duty vehicles, saying that
most of the heavy goods being transported on roads will be best conveyed by
railways as is being done in civilised countries worldwide.