Fuel transporters shut down petrol distribution operation nationwide

 

Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have shut down petrol distribution nationwide with effect from today, Monday, September 8, over a face-off with Dangote Refinery.

The National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, in an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, noted that the move was in the interest of the country.

Last week, NUPENG threatened to embark on a strike over a plan by Dangote Refinery to ditch thousands of members on the grounds of belonging to the union.

The union had described the action as anti-labour practices against the country’s relevant labour laws.

Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery-backed groups such as the Tanker Drivers and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA).

This is just as a group, Economic Rights Activists (ERA), kicked against the NUPENG-planned nationwide strike.

But speaking with DAILY POST on the latest development, Akporeha said that Nigerians must stand out against any employer of labour or investor with a slavery mentality.

According to him, if nothing was done, Dangote Refinery planned to ditch 250,000 drivers over their affiliation to NUPENG.

He stated that the strike was necessary for Dangote to be called to order.

“Our protest is for the interest of Nigerians. We’re talking about 250,000 drivers that would be thrown on the street.

“Our members with Dangote refinery and MRS are about to be thrown out, while there is a plan to recruit new ones with a clause that they would not belong to our union,” he told DAILY POST.

He described anti-NUPENG groups as faceless and propaganda allegedly orchestrated by Dangote Refinery, dismissing claims that its members plan to burn Compressed Natural Gas trucks belonging to the oil firm.