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  • PTD national chair, Osesua, urges members to shun sponsored solidarity march in Lagos

    PTD national chair, Osesua, urges members to shun sponsored solidarity march in Lagos

    The National leadership of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG, under the control of Comrade Lucky Osesua has decried fresh plot by the Lagos Zone of PTD to stage a sponsored solidarity march.

    The PTD said that the sponsored solidarity march was a ploy to cajole members into declaring their support for an illegitimate faction led by a pretender to the union’s leadership and a desperate impostor, Augustine Egbon.

    According to the National Secretary of PTD, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, they got a hint late Tuesday night that PTD Lagos Zone had lured major marketers to bring forty drivers with trucks to the Zone in order to embark on a solidarity march.

    According to him: “This directive did not come from us, the authentic and legitimate national leadership of PTD and it is important for us to reiterate that. We have just one PTD in Nigeria and the only constitutionally recognised National Chairman in the eye of the law is Comrade Lucky Osesua.”

    He also stated that a huge amount of money had been set aside to reward participating drivers.

    He noted that their so-called solidarity activities would be captured audio-visuaally to give an impression that Augustine Egbon was still in power and that NUPENG and PTD were one.

    This gambit, according to him, was misleading, even as he called on members to reject the plot outright.

    He added that no tanker drivers in Lagos or anywhere else should fall for the gambit of the Lagos Zone or any other Zones, while also assuring them that Osesua was committed to take them out of slavery into freedom and succor.

    He stressed that victory was near, and that members should not be discouraged.

    Below is the statement in full:

    “The National leadership of PTD under the control of Comrade Lucky Osesua has renewed its strength to bequeath freedom and new lease of life to all Tanker Drivers across the four Zones of the Branch while also assuring that victory at the Court is very near to push out all impostors who are parading themselves as leaders of PTD, especially Augustine Egbon who came in through a Kangaroo election that lacks legitimacy.

    “However, to make our effort easier for victory through the instrumentality of the law, we implore all Tanker Drivers in Lagos Zone of PTD or anywhere else not to partake in any solidarity walk scheduled to hold on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.

    “We have gathered from good authority such ploy was a gambit being orchestrated by some elements of deceit and desperation to coerce members into embracing their misadventure.

    “We got a hint late Tuesday night that PTD Lagos Zone has lured major marketers to bring fourty drivers with trucks to the Zone so as to embark on a solidarity movement. We also gathered that huge amount of money had been set aside to reward participating drivers and the activities will be captured audio-virtually to give an impression to the public that Petroleum Tanker Drivers are in support of William Akporeha, Afolabi Olawale, Otunba Oladiti, Augustine Egbon and their cohorts.

    This shenanigan is to clear their face from the public disgrace they received from Tanker Drivers in Lagos recently. This will not stop the movement of liberation from oppression that Tanker Drivers have decided to embark on. Let’s all stand firm as our freedom is guaranteed in this struggle for liberation from Oladiti and his league of tyrants. We shall all overcome and PTD will be great again. Their vicious attempt is not only embar but ridiculous and we beg our members to reject this plot in its entirety without waste of time.

    “Please note also that no Tanker Drivers in Lagos or anywhere else should fall for the gambit of Lagos Zone or any other Zone as the case may be. Be assured that Comrade Lucky Osesua is committed to take PTD members out of slavery and replace it with freedom and succor, and please note that victory is near and we urge no members to be deterred or discouraged.

    Signed:

    Comrade Humble Obinna Power,
    National Secretary PTD Branch of NUPENG”

  • Update: Protesters block Adigun, factional Chairman PTD Lagos Zone, from Ejigbo depot as Osesua-led PTD gains control+Video

    Update: Protesters block Adigun, factional Chairman PTD Lagos Zone, from Ejigbo depot as Osesua-led PTD gains control+Video

    Protesters on Thursday barricaded the entry to NNPC depot in Lagos State, preventing the factional Chairman of Lagos Zone of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG, Saheed Gbolahan Adigun and his entourage from gaining access to the facility.

    The protesters, who were said to be loyal to the Comrade Lucky Osesua and Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga faction of PTD, said they could no longer subject themselves to the leadership of Augustine Egbon who they claimed had betrayed them and turned them to slaves in the hands of their parent body (NUPENG).

    The angry PTD members also decried the manner with which armed security agents came to the facility, noting that if there was any case of accidental discharge on Thursday or pulling of the trigger by an impulsive operative, the situation could have made the depot to go up in flames.

    They further alleged that Adigun’s intention was to impose a caretaker committee on them on Thursday while also refusing to conduct fresh election that would usher in fresh leadership at the unit in line with Branch’s guidelines.

    They also said should he succeed, revenue generated at the depot would be siphoned with no one having the courage to ask questions.

    Captured in a video clip, the protesters were shouting in Yoruba language “Ole” “Ole” (meaning thief, thief) were not deterred by the heavy presence of armed military operatives that came in with the convoy of the zonal Chairman to provide cover for him and those who rode in the white PTD branded Toyota Hiace bus with Lagos number plate, AP542VP.

    Members of PTD at the NNPC Ejigbo unit, as gathered, were unhappy with the manner in which the union was being managed by the current leadership of both PTD Lagos Zone and the National leadership of NUPENG

    They were reported to have claimed that since Gbolahan attained office as Chairman of the Zone, there had been no record of transparency or accountability on all the resources being generated by the tanker drivers in the Zone.

    “Our protest is going on peacefully today on Thursday. We don’t want Gbolahan and his people here in Ejigbo Depot; he has betrayed us; he should explain to us where he takes our money being generated every week to. We can’t be working here under the sun and rain, and you will be taking our money to Ibadan every week. He can’t impose caretaker committee here, we won’t allow them, we want election, we want to freely choose those who will lead us without rancour. Enough is enough.

    “See them bringing soldiers with arms and ammunition to silence, intimidate, harass, victimise, and bully us.

    The same thing we see at the Lagos Zone every day, we have Naval officers with ammunition manning the secretariat. How many of us can they kill? Is this the way union is run? They have lost their legitimacy; thats why they are bringing soldiers to foist their leadership on us, and that can never work.

    This is not the same union that late Frank Kokori, Akinlaja, Okuogbo, Akpatason, Igwe Achese built. I wonder why EFCC, ICPC, NFIU etc hasn’t come to look at NUPENG shoddy financial records all this while.

    “How on earth can you bring armed security agents to a petrol depot that houses highly inflammable products? What if there was a case of accidental discharge on Thursday or that a trigger-happy personnel pulled his trigger? The whole depot could have gone up in flames and lives and properties in the depot, and its environs could have been jeopardized.

    “This is not the type of union that should be running our affairs; all they do is to loot our resources, impoverish our members and make them look like slaves and beggars, while they are building filing stations, mansions, hotels, parks and buying cars for their women and sending their children abroad to school. Comrade Lucky Osesua and Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga are leaders who mean well for the union. These are the type of people we can trust in the leadership of the Union. Workers inside the tank farm have joined the protest as we speak,” Faleti Taoreed, one of the organisers, said.

    “Nobody is going in and out of the facility, we cannot support leaders who can’t protect our interests. We are the foot soldiers, yet they don’t reward our hard work. They are thieves. Akporeha, Afolabi, and Otunba should leave us alone and retire from the union immediately,” he said.

    The crisis rocking NUPENG has been in the news since November 2023 as the Lucky Osesua-led faction has consistently condemned the posture of its parent union, which they said had been hijacked by the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, who they claimed is engaged in forum shopping, blackmail, contempt of Court and using sentiments to foist on Tanker Drivers, Federal Government and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry the leadership of Augustine Egbon, which is against the wishes of PTD members.

    See video below:

  • NUPENG reacts over Frank Kokori’s demise

    NUPENG reacts over Frank Kokori’s demise

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), says Frank Kokori was a beacon of democratic struggles in Nigeria and he remained an advocate of democracy throughout his life.

    Mr Williams Akporeha, President of NUPENG, said this during an interview on Thursday in Lagos.

    Kokori, a former General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), dead around 1:30 am on Thursday, on his 80th birthday.

    Akporeha said the labour and pro-democracy movements would miss Kokori greatly.

    “He stood firm and continue to speak for the downtrodden until his last breath on earth. We wish he lived longer.  It is a sad day for us in NUPENG and will continue to celebrate him.

    “Kokori was a well-known committed and dedicated defender, promoter and fighter for workers’ rights and democratic rights of the citizens.

    “He spent a life of “Sacrifice” to struggles for emancipation of the working class globally and enthronement of democratic rule in Nigeria,” he said.

    According to him, Kokori spent years in prisons and severally brutalised in his struggles for not only the Trade Unions but also against military rule in Nigeria.

    He said the late unionist spent later years of his life nursing some of the vicious wounds inflicted on him in the course of those struggles.

    “He still lived up to good age before he eventually surrendered to go home for a peaceful rest after those struggles for humanity.

    “We love Kokori but we as humans, we have to take consolations in the great and wonderful memories he left behind for us to cherish and celebrate,” he said.

    Recalls Kokori emerged as a pivotal figure in the struggle for the validation of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election won by late Chief Moshood Abiola.

    Kokori was involved in mobilising the masses against the annulment of the election.

    He led NUPENG and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in organising nationwide strikes that crippled the oil industry, the country’s economic lifeblood.

    In addition to leading the oil workers strikes, Kokori was actively involved in pro-democracy activities.

    He participated in various rallies and demonstrations, calling for the enthronement of democracy and the recognition of Abiola’s victory.

    He also played a crucial role in building alliances with other pro-democracy groups and individuals, fostering unity and a common front against the military regime.

    As a result of his relentless activism, Kokori was arrested and detained by the military government enduring imprisonment and torture.

  • PTD National Chair, Osesua, accuses NUPENG of coercing members to pledge allegiance to illegal faction

    PTD National Chair, Osesua, accuses NUPENG of coercing members to pledge allegiance to illegal faction

    The National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG, Comrade Lucky Osesua and his Deputy, Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga on behalf of their executives and members have again accused their parent body of coercing and luring members into signing an undertaking to pledge loyalty to an illegitimate faction of the Branch.

    According to PTD, the illegal faction of the Branch is under Augustine Egbon, which is brazenly backed by the President and General Secre­tary of the union despite the interventions of the Courts of competent jurisdiction to reverse the illegality.

    Osesua also emphasized that the actions and inactions of NUPENG leadership, particularly that of the President, Williams Akporeha, the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale and the Trustee, Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti was a total affront to the rule of law and the extant rules of the Union.

    PTD however demanded that the intimidation, harassment, humiliation and emotional attacks on their members must stop forthwith, while it also urged the Presidency, Ministry of Labour and Employment, elders of the union, Police, NLC, and other key stakeholders in the industry as well as intelligence, investigative and security agencies in the country to come to their aid and deliver the union before it slides into an irredeemable implosion.

    These concerns were captured in a statement, on Wednesday, jointly signed by Comrades Lucky Osesua, the National Chairman of PTD and Humble Obinna Power, National Secre­tary.

    The statement reads:

    “Our attention has been drawn to a fresh anti-labour activity being carried out by NUPENG leadership to further subject our members into slavery and servitude against their wishes. It was such an appalling, callous and very heart-rending approach to industrial relations practice at this age and time, that President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha, the General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale and the Trustee, Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti would form an unholy alliance to use coercive force, intimidation, harassment, victimization and emotional attack on our members at the Units and Zonal levels by luring them into signing an undertaking with the header “LOYALTY CLEARANCE” that suggested ”unalloyed loyalty” to a leadership that lacks legitimacy under Augustine Egbon.

    “This oppressive style of leadership is alien to our union and we urge the government and the public to take note of this flagrant abuse of power. A union which had time without number accused management of different oil and gas companies in the country of stopping their members from being unionized is the same union that is foisting on its members a demand to build support and loyalty for a leadership that was illegally constituted and forcing members to comply or face forceful exit from the union.

    “The psycho­logical and emotional trau­ma currently being experienced by our members is totally unbearable for them, and this is unfortunately making them to feel less human and completely depressed and unhappy.

    “We wish to emphasise here, that this lack of respect and sensitivity to Nigeria’s extant labour laws, international con­ventions and global best prac­tices is gradually becoming the stock in trade for NUPENG as there are still several other lingering infractions and issues against hapless Tanker Drivers yet to be addressed by the leadership of NUPENG, even after courts and elders of our unions had sev­erally intervened in these matters.

    “We therefore use this medium to demand that the intimidation, harassment, humiliation, physical and emotional attacks on our members must stop, and the signing of the form described as “LOYALTY CLEARANCE” must also stop forthwith, while also urging the Presidency, Ministry of Labour and Employment, elders of the union, Police, NLC, NSCDC, ICPC, EFCC, National Assembly and other key stakeholders to come to our aid and deliver the union from sliding into an implosion that can ruin the socio-economic fabric of the country and as well sever industrial harmony.

    “The struggle continues, our solidarity remains constant, and victory is assured by God’s grace.

    SIGNED:

    Comrade Lucky Osesua
    (National Chairman)

    Comrade Humble Obinna Power (National Secretary).”

  • Legal matters are not sentimental, PTD replies NUPENG, says Lucky Osezua is confirmed chairman

    Legal matters are not sentimental, PTD replies NUPENG, says Lucky Osezua is confirmed chairman

    The National Executives of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG under the control of Comrade Lucky Osesua has taken a swipe at the parent body for engaging in forum shopping, blackmail, contempt of Court and using sentiments to foist their illegal leadership on the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry as a fait accompli.

    The Osesua leadership, which emerged at the election in Abuja, which is the venue prescribed by the Union’s bye law, said the illegal leadership that emerged from a Kangaroo election in Ibadan was desperate to force stakeholders into accepting it.

    It said that the illegal leadership could not avail itself legitimacy by serially violating the sanctity of the Branch’s bye-law and other legal methods of conducting Delegates Conference.

    According to PTD in a press statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Comrade Lucky Osesua and its National Secretary, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, on behalf of the entire Branch on Sunday, the election which purportedly produced Augustine Egbon as the Chairman lacked legitimacy ab-initio.

    PTD however appealed to the Federal Government especially President Bola Tinubu (GCFR), the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong and other key players in the industry not to seek legitimacy for National executives of PTD elsewhere except the one by Comrade Lucky Osesua and Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga.

    The statement reads in full:

    The National executive of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has condemned the pitiful posture of our parent union which has been solely hijacked by the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, by engaging in forum shopping, blackmail, contempt of Court and using sentiments to foist on Federal Government and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry the purported legitimacy of the leadership.

    The union now totters and wobbles as it screeches towards a dangerous and avoidable canyon of dry bones, as its staff members and branch members can no longer recognise their union which has been battered by men and women from the dark womb of time; unfortunately it is not clear if there could be any glimmer of hope to reclaim it from its impending slide to anarchy and total collapse under the current leadership of Williams Akporeha (President), Afolabi Olawale and the Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti (National Trustee).

    This ugly episode started when the power-drunk General Secretary of NUPENG, Mr Afolabi Olawale tried to manipulate and circumvent the bye-law of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG by holding Delegates Conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, contrary to the provisions of the bye-law which clearly gives Abuja as a legally recognized venue for the election.

    Yet, in flagrant defiance to Court order, they went ahead and held an illegal Conference despite the Court injunction, which barred them from doing so.

    Consequently, many protests were staged across the Zones of the union including the National Secretariat in Jibowu Lagos, but NUPENG brazenly turned deaf ears; this is totally unacceptable and truly showed the leadership does not mean well for the union and its members especially the PTD Branch.

    However, some of us who are law abiding and truly mean well for one-time Trade Union which was built and nurtured by Chief (Comrade) Frank Ovie Kokori with the objective to protect the interest and foster better working conditions for the blue collar employees in the Nigeria’s oil and gas sector converged on Abuja on Tuesday, 31st day October, 2023 had our own election which brought Comrade Lucky Osesua on board as the National Chairman and Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga emerging as Deputy National Chairman respectively.

    Please for the purpose of clarity, Augustine Egbon is not and can never be the National Chairman of PTD and that is what the law says. Afolabi, Williams and Oladiti know this fact but they only want to circumvent the law and as well take pleasure in stirring up a hornets’ nest and to destroy the union, but the truth is that they cannot be bigger than the Court of the land neither do they have the powers to bring down the union to satisfy their thirst for avarice, contempt and unholy plot best known to them.

    The stake in PTD, particularly access to administrative, operational and economic incentives and other opportunities cannot be left in the hands of stooges who want to steal blindly the common patrimony of PTD under the whimps and caprice of Afolabi who has personally pocketed the entire union.

    Above all, PTD is already awake and cannot continue to allow its employees to remain its tormentors and exploiters. The trio of Comrades Akporeha, Afolabi and Oladiti should be called to order before they set the union on the verge of Precipice.

    We therefore appeal to our listening and labour-friendly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and the Labour Minister, to, in the interest of peace and industrial harmony intervene in this very disturbing and ridiculous situation by recognizing the legitimacy of PTD National Executives under the leadership of Comrade Lucky Osesua and his Deputy Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga.

    Government and other industry stakeholders should relate with us as the only legitimate, constitutionally recognised executives of the PTD Branch of NUPENG.

    Once again PTD must be allowed to breathe such that its members could peacefully and conveniently be proud and better for what they are doing as they continue to traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria through distribution and transportation of Petroleum products and supply of gas to Nigerians in their homes, offices and factories.

    SIGNED:

    Comrade Lucky Osesua
    (National Chairman)

    Comrade Humble Obinna Power (National Secretary)

  • Confusion as PTD National Chairman dismisses tanker drivers protest

    Confusion as PTD National Chairman dismisses tanker drivers protest

    Mr Augustine Egbon, National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed claims that its members are planning a protest.

    The PTD National Chairman, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said that members of the union were not planning to embark on any kind of protest.

    This is coming after Mr Gbenga Olawale, an Ex-Officio of the PTD from Ibadan depot, said in a statement on Sunday that their members would begin a nationwide protest to press home their demand.

    Reacting, Mr Egbon alerted the general public to the antics of some desperate and mischievous individuals.

    “That is to cause unfounded and dangerous panic in the supply chain of petroleum products distribution in the country through spreading of fake and false news items.

    “Our members are not embarking on any form of protest and we are determined to continue our services to the nation.

    “We wholeheartedly support the efforts of the government of President Bola Tinubu to put our economy on the right track for the good of all of us.’’

    He also reaffirmed that there was unity among the union members and advised the public to shun the rumours.

    Egbon urged security agencies to look into the source of such false information.

    He added that members on PTD were fully committed and united in their collective struggles as they believed that workers who were united could never be defeated.

    “The general public is implored to ignore these mischief makers and security agencies are hereby called upon to fully investigate this panic-creating news items as the citizens are already going through enough tough times and situations,” he said.

    NUPENG, PTD dismiss reports of strike

    Meanwhile, NUPENG and PTD have jointly dismissed reports of threats to embark on a nationwide strike.

    NUPENG General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said there was no plan whatsoever by the petroleum tanker drivers to protest over leadership tussle.

    He also said there was no division in the union as being speculated by some individuals and their sponsors, adding that the report was false and unfounded and should be disregarded.

    The general secretary said the motive of those behind the speculation was to create panic in the public space and cause artificial scarcity of petroleum products.

    Afolabi tasked security agencies to fish out those behind the reports which he said was capable of creating social upheaval and security concerns.

    He explained that the statement was to avert any form of panic and to ask members of the public to ignore the false and misleading report.

    The secretary general assured that all petroleum tanker drivers were fully committed to national services for effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.

    “We earnestly call on security agencies to urgently fish out the writer of this very misleading and panic creating news items.

    “Make them face the full wrath of the law if they cannot prove the source and authority of the fake news which is very capable of creating social upheaval,” Afolabi said.

    The PTD branch of NUPENG National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, said the report was being spread to create panic in the supply chain of petroleum products distribution in the country.

    The chairman maintained that there was no division within the union’s rank and therefore, no need for any form of protests.

    “The PTD-NUPENG wishes to alert the general public of the antics of some desperate and mischievous individuals to cause unfounded and dangerous panic in the supply chain of petroleum products distribution in the country.

    “This they are doing through spreading of fake and false news items, petroleum tanker drivers are not embarking on any form of protest.

    “We are determined to continue our services to the nation and whole heartedly support the efforts of the government of President Bola Tinubu to put our economy on the right track for the good of all,” he said.

    The chairman added that the unity of the union’s workers could never be defeated.

    Egbon implored the general public to ignore every mischief maker and called on security agencies to fully investigate the panic-creating news reports.

    This, he said, was especially because citizens were already going through enough tough times and situations.

  • NUPENG speaks on petroleum tanker drivers nationwide protest

    NUPENG speaks on petroleum tanker drivers nationwide protest

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed reports of a planned protest by Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD).

    Recall the tanker drivers had threatened to break away from its umbrella body, NUPENG, if the current President, Williams Akporeha, and the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, remain in office.

    In a statement on Sunday, an ex-officio of the PTD from Ibadan depot, Gbenga Olawale, said their members would begin a nationwide protest to emphasise their demands.

    Olawale said Akporeha is not a member of NUPENG and, therefore, lacked the competence to lead the union.

    But in a statement on Monday signed by its General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG said there is no plan whatsoever by tanker drivers to embark on any protest.

    The union stated that the rumour of a planned nationwide protest is the handiwork of desperate individuals to create public panic and cause artificial fuel scarcity.

    NUPENG said there is no division in the Union as some desperate individuals and their sponsors want to make the public believe and advised the public to ignore such rumour.

    The statement reads: “The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Union are hereby informing the general public that there is no plan whatsoever by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers to embark on any protest.

    “There is no division in the Union as some desperate individuals and their sponsors want to project. The information is false and unfounded.

    “This clarification is compelled in view of the attention of the leadership of both the NUPENG and PTD Branch of the Union that was drawn to this very misleading, mischievous and unfounded online news of the purported protest of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers across the country.

    “The news item is false, unfounded and should be ignored. It is intended to create panic in the public and cause artificial scarcity.

    “All the Petroleum Tanker Drivers are fully committed to the national services of effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.

    We earnestly call on the security agencies to urgently fish out the writer of this very misleading and panic-creating news item and make him face the full wrath of the law if he or she cannot prove the source and authority of the fake news item, which is very capable of creating social upheaval and security concerns.”

  • Petroleum tanker drivers begin nationwide protest, threaten to exit NUPENG

    Petroleum tanker drivers begin nationwide protest, threaten to exit NUPENG

    Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have threatened to exit its umbrella body, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), if its President Williams Akporeha and General-Secretary, Afoloabi Olawale, did not resign.

    Mr Gbenga Olawale, an Ex-Officio of the PTD from Ibadan depot, said in a statement on Sunday that their members would begin a nationwide protest to press home their demand.

    The statement directed PTD members across the country to move with leaves in front of their trucks to serve as a warning to NUPENG and police against interference and incessant harrassment of their leaders.

    According to Olawale, Williams is not a member of NUPENG and as such lacks the competence to lead the union.

    He alleged that Williams was drafted into petrol station workers of NUPENG (PSW) to enable him to contest election as NUPENG president which was a departure from the NUPENG constitution.

    “Williams is not a worker or a pump attendant on record as at the time he was verifying for the president position,” the statement said.

    Olawale further alleged that Williams planted his surrogates to collect all revenue of the union which were not used for the development of the union and tanker drivers.

    He called for a fresh election as members of the PTD have decided to stand with Lucky Osusan and Dayyabu Garga to be the new NUPENG President and General-Secretary, respectively.

    Olawale added that they decided to support Osusan and Garga because they have sacrificed so much to ensure that their members were free from all kinds of extortion.

  • STRIKE! NUPENG orders workers to ensure full compliance

    STRIKE! NUPENG orders workers to ensure full compliance

    Four days to October 3 nationwide strike the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has directed members, to ensure full compliance.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls strike was announced by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC.

    NUPENG, said the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD; Petrol Stations Workers, PSW; Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers, LPGAR, and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution must comply with the strike from midnight of Tuesday, October 3.

  • Nigeria has no reason to import petrol – Oborevwori

    Nigeria has no reason to import petrol – Oborevwori

    Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Tuesday, urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to work towards revitalising the nation’s refineries, insisting that Nigeria has no reason to import petrol with its cost implications on the economy.

    Governor Oborevwori stated this when he received the National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) led by the National President, Comrade Williams Akporeha at Government House, Asaba.

    He said there was no justification for an oil producing nation with four refineries to resort to fuel importation for its local consumption.

    The Governor described NUPENG as a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian project and thanked the President and the union for the support given to him during and after the general elections.

    Governor Oborevwori said: “I am happy that NUPENG have been in this struggle for years and I congratulate you for the struggle for more efficient and people oriented oil and gas sector and I celebrate you because you are a critical stakeholder in the Nigeria project.

    “A lot of things have been happening. For years, our refineries have been down and nobody talks about how we can put our refineries to use; instead, we are importing petroleum products.

    “This is also biting on the economy of this country. Look at the prices of things which have gone up because we are not producing. If we were producing, we won’t have these challenges.

    “The products we use today are being imported and we have refineries that are not working.

    “I have promised Deltans in my M.O.R.E Agenda that security is very key. Infrastructure is there too. As you now know, most of the projects just awarded in Warri, will favour NUPENG because without good roads, you can’t lift your products.

    “Yesterday, my Deputy Governor went on inspection with the Honourable Minister of Works to inspect the Benin/Warri road and the Amukpe/Agbor road.

    “Today, the Minister of Works is also going through the Ughelli/Patani/Bayelsa road to ascertain the level of damage on those roads. Without good roads we can’t have access.

    “As a state, we have embarked on the dualisation of the Ughelli-Asaba road, we have done about 70 percent. If we didn’t embark on that road, we would not hhave had access to the capital city today. I am very sure that by this time next year, we will be completing the dualisation.”

    He commended NUPENG for its intention to build skill acquisition centre to empower youths of the state on relevant oil and gas industry skills and pledged the collaboration of the state for the success of the project.

    “I am happy about the skill acquisition and we are going to partner with you. We will work with the Ministry of Lands to make sure that you get land to develop. Government will give you the land, your own is to build the skill acquisition centre.

    “As a youth friendly governor, I appointed over 10 youths below 40 years into my government. So, the skill acquisition centre is very important”.

    Earlier, Comrade Akporeha said they were in Asaba to congratulate the Governor on his assumption of office and for his laudable achievements in 100 days in the saddle.

    He said that Delta is an investment destination any time and urged the Governor to create the enabling environment for more investors to come and invest in the state.

    The NUPENG boss while thanking the Governor for his workers’ friendly disposition, appealed for the state government’s assistance in rehabilitating the deplorable federal roads leading to fuel depots in the state

    Akporeha said NUPENG had concluded plans to build a skill acquisition centre in Warri to train youths in the state.