The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared that petroleum tanker drivers will commence an indefinite strike starting tomorrow, Monday, September 8.
In a statement jointly signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and Secretary-General, Afolabi Olawale, the union accused certain business moguls in the petroleum sector of perpetrating anti-labour practices.
According to the union, drivers recruited under a scheme involving the importation of 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks are being compelled to sign anti-union agreements.
NUPENG described this move as unconstitutional and a violation of international labour standards.
The union warned that the suspension of tanker drivers’ services could trigger nationwide fuel scarcity if the issues are not urgently resolved.
NUPENG, therefore, urged the Federal Government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and international labour organizations to intervene immediately, warning that failure to act could lead to wider solidarity actions across the labour movement.
Writing by Maureen Edeke