Kunle Kalejaye 03 April 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, have called off their nationwide strike which began on Monday.
This followed the intervention of Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru.
President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPNG, Comrade Igwe Achese, announced the call off of the strike last night in Abuja.
Achese said the Group Managing Director of NNPC had demonstrated sufficient commitment by his management to resolve the issues involved in the strike, including poor salaries, poor state of Nigerian roads, poor sleeping quarters for drivers and insecurity on the highways.
Earlier at the meeting on Monday between NNPC, NUPENG and the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, the NNPC boss announced Federal Government’s approval of an increase in bridging cost allowance from N6.20 to N7.20 as a palliative to aid negotiations towards ending the strike.
The increased was made know Dr. M.K. Baru who supervised the meeting between PTD OFF and National Road Transport Operators, NARTO towards calling off the PTD strike.
“I’m happy to announce to you that the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu has just approved the increased of bridging cost allowance from N6.20k to N7.20k,” Baru said.
He said this gesture by the Federal Government should be a good platform for for the unions to discuss issues adding that “we expect that with this, you’ll call off d strike immediately.”
The NNPC GMD pleaded with the unions leadership to ensure that their discussions should be guided by national and not personal interest.
In response, NARTO President, Alh Kasim Bataiya said : I thank the GMD for his interest to intervene in this impasse. This is in the interest of the nation. I thank you Sir.
Those present at the meeting includes: Hon Joseph Akinlaja, Chairman House C’ttee on Petroleum Downstream and Comrade Igwe Achese, NUPENG President.
Others are Alh. Kasim Bataiya, NARTO President; Saliman Oladiti, National Chairman PTD; Heads of NPMC, NNPC Retail, PPPRA & PEF
