The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended withdrawal of services of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) billed to commence midnight of Sunday.
Its president, Comrade Williams Akporeha, explained that the decision followed an understanding reached between the union and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
NUPENG had directed its members to immediately embark on work to rule action in preparation for total withdrawal of services from October 8, 2021, if the Federal government fails to address its demands.
Akporeha said: “The suspension of our planned action is predicated on our belief that the understanding reached with the government today (yesterday) as well as at meeting of Tuesday, October 12, 2021 will be fulfilled to the letters.”
He added: “We wish to clearly made it known to all well-meaning Nigerians that have variously appealed to us on these issues that our plan was not intended to inflict further pains on Nigerians, but to ensure observance of minimum safety on our highways for the good of lives and properties.
“We are well aware of the impacts our actions usually have on the people, businesses and the nation at large, but we cannot continue to watch as things continue to degenerate in our industry.
“In the light of the above, the union will not hesitate to re-commence the action without any notice if the understanding reached in these two meetings are not fully implemented within the timeframe agreed.
“With this, our petroleum tanker drivers are hereby directed to continue providing services for the efficient and effective distribution of petroleum products to homes and workplaces across the country.”
Reacting to the development, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammed, said: “The NNPC wishes to appreciate the maturity and patriotism of the leadership of the PTD; and to also reiterate its resolve to actively participate in finding a quick and effective solution to the concerns raised by the PTD.
The Corporation had promised to fix some of the bad federal roads, which the union had complained about.