Oscarline Onwuemenyi
06 July 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) announced on Friday that has begun implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage bill approved by Federal government to petroleum tanker drivers.
The Federal government last year approved N18,000 minimum wage for workers in the country after the senate passed the Minimum Wage bill in February.
NARTO President, Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya while signing the agreement in Abuja, said the gesture was to boost the morale of the drivers in carrying out their assignments.
“Petroleum Tankers’ Drivers are important partners to NARTO and their welfare is paramount to us,” said Bataiya.
According to him, further steps are being taken by the association to ensure improved working conditions for oil tanker drivers to guarantee effective distribution of petroleum products to all parts of the country.
He added that under his tenure the long peaceful relationship that exists between drivers and the association will continue to improve.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the NARTO National Operations Coordinator, Alhaji Lawan Isa said transport owners owe it a duty to respect government policy with regards to national minimum wage.
“The agreement we signed today is much more than minimum wage, in some areas we increased to about 100 percent,” said Isa.
“When people accuse our drivers of causing accidents and destroying our roads, they forgotten that going by roads standards worldwide, Nigerian roads are more or less improved pathways.”
He called on government to urgently improve our roads in order to reduce the level of accidents and loss of lives.
In his remark the President of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), Timothy Ogbu said his members are grateful for the implementation of the minimum wage and promise to continue the good working relationship with the transport owners.
