Road intervention: NARTO, NUPENG-PTD suspend proposed industrial action as NNPC intervenes
…Parties pledge to ensure nationwide availability of petroleum products …To review freight rates for transporters
The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have suspended their planned strike over the state of roads in the country.
The suspension of the proposed strike came after the timely intervention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which had beckoned on then to set aside the proposed Industrial action.
The resolution of the stakeholders was expressed in a communique labelled as “CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN NARTO, PTD, NUPENG, NMDPRA AND NNPC LTD” yesterday in Abuja.
After the engagement between NMDPRA, NNPC, PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG, they resolved that, on roads rehabilitations, 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 the road projects.”
While on the review of freight rate for transporters, they resolved that “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 the light of current economic realities.
“NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which includes PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.
“All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the reviews of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government. The Authority to advise on 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 efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.”
Recall that NUPENG had earlier declared its support for the imminent industrial action by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG and announced that it had started mobilising members of the union for the sudden strike.
NUPENG had further insisted that its investigations showed that officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing were currently diverting the N621bn provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for the rehabilitation of 21 critical highways.
They disclosed this in a statement jointly signed by the union’s 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.
The statement read in part, “These two meetings resulted into the signing of a communique indicating the readiness and willingness of NNPC to finance the rehabilitation of identified 21 critical roads at an estimated sum of N621bn through road infrastructure tax credit scheme.
“On the basis of this communique, the union suspended the intended industrial action, but we were very clear in our statement, that should the spirit and letter of the agreement not fully implemented with focus on those jointly identified critical roads or attempt is made to divert the funds, the union will not give further warning to resume the intended actions.”
While speaking to the Media, General Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari maintained that “our engagement with NARTO, NUPENG-PTD to review our current situation particularly in respect of the condition of the roads which the NNPC has intervened to ensure quick delivery and also completion.
“We noted the concern by our stakeholders particularly NARTO, PTD and NUPENG that no any potential for misapplying the available resources for any other purpose other than the one we have highlighted.
“We have agreed to work together to ensure that we monitor the projects closely so that they are delivered on time.”
