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Tag: NUPENG

  • Fresh fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG directs members to withdraw service in Kaduna

    Fresh fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG directs members to withdraw service in Kaduna

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed its members to shut down services in Kaduna State with effect from May 16.

    The directive was in compliance to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) five days warning strike over the sack of workers in the state.

    NUPENG’s General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale gave the directive in a letter addressed to Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG on Wednesday.

    Olawale said compliance to the directive was necessary for the successful execution of the campaign against alleged anti-labour practices of Kaduna state governor.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the NLC had directed workers in the state to totally withdraw services for five days with effect from May 16, 2021.

    The directive was given following the sack of over 4,000 workers in the state.

    Kaduna State NLC Chairman, Mr Ayuba Suleiman had said that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting in Kaduna with a delegation from the NLC national headquarters.

    The union had accused the state government of ignoring due process in the recent disengagement of over 4,000 workers from local governments, state basic education board and Primary Health Care Agency.

  • BREAKING: Fuel scarcity looms as tanker drivers threaten to withdraw services

    BREAKING: Fuel scarcity looms as tanker drivers threaten to withdraw services

    Nigerians are in for another round of fuel scarcity as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to withdraw its services.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports PTD threatened to withdraw its services if the installation of safety valves is not made mandatory in petroleum trucks with effect from May 1.

    The union’s Chairman, Mr Akanni Oladiti, stated this in a statement the branch issued on Sunday, following its Executive Meeting held on March 27 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Oladiti said that the decision was because the union members were usually the first casualties in any situation of fire accidents involving petroleum trucks.

    According to him, the safety valves, if installed, will go a long way in reducing the rate of fire accidents involving fuel trucks and therefore save precious lives and property.

    “The council in session noted with deep concerns, the inability to fully enforce the compulsory installation of safety valves in all petroleum trucks to protect the inflammable contents of the trucks from spilling over in a situation of road mishaps.

    “These fire accidents are becoming too many but definitely avoidable.

    “The branch executive council in session is not unmindful of the pains and discomforts our decisions and intending actions will have on the general public.

    “However, these are hard and difficult decisions we must take for the sake of our members and even the general public,” the chairman said.

    He said also that the union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to negotiate the renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for new working conditions for tanker drivers.

    He said that the expiring CBA had been in operation for the past six years despite the fact that the country had been experiencing a spiral inflationary trend that was further complicated by the COVID -19 pandemic.

    “The council in session expresses deep worries that petroleum tanker drivers have been going through harrowing financial situations.

    “This is so, even, while rendering selfless national services to ensure delivery of petroleum products to homes and factories in every nook and cranny of this country, day and night, in good and bad weathers and on highly deplorable highways,” Oladiti said.

  • NUPENG backs #EndSARS protests, denies plans to shut fuel stations

    NUPENG backs #EndSARS protests, denies plans to shut fuel stations

    The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have denied rumours suggesting that all it’s organs are shutting down stations to join in the #EndSARS Campaign.

    In a statement signed by NUPENG’s President Williams Akporeha and Secretary General Olawale Afolabi on Saturday, the oil workers said they are proceeding with their normal work. They however expressed their support for the Nigerian Youths in their ongoing campaign against police brutality.

    The statement reads:

    “EndSARS: NO ORGAN OF NUPENG ORDERED SHUTTING DOWN OF FUEL STATIONS OR OIL INSTALLATIONS”

    “NUPENG stands with Nigerian youths against Police brutality and call for immediate and far reaching Police reforms as our members are as well victims of Police brutality and abuses through extortion, detention, harassment and intimidation nationwide.

    Meanwhile, no organ of our Union has ordered shutting down of fuel stations or oil installations.

    We sincerely empathize with all victims of police brutality including our members across the country and we peacefully join all well meaning Nigerians to say POLICE BRUTALITY MUST STOP!

    Long live Federal Republic Of Nigeria!…”

  • BREAKING: NUPENG, PENGASSAN direct members in Chevron to shut down operations

    BREAKING: NUPENG, PENGASSAN direct members in Chevron to shut down operations

    Labour unions in the oil and gas sector have directed their members in Chevron Nigeria Limited to commence a total shut down of the company’s operations following the sack of 600 Nigerian employees and other anti-Labour practices by the management of the company.

    The Unions, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) gave the directive in a joint statement on Sunday.

    NUPENG’S President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and the President, PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said: “We have directed our members in Chevron to withdraw their services.

    “We also call on the Federal Government to call Chevron Management to order, otherwise we can no longer guarantee industrial peace in the oil and gas sector.

    “Here is our fatherland and we have a labour law that regulates the activities of organisations in Nigeria; this law cannot be breached; We must follow the process.”

    The duo alleged that Chevron management on Independence Day, notified about 2,000 of its employees that their services were no longer required.

    Both leaders also alleged that the Chevron management had asked those employees who were still interested in working with them to apply afresh.

    “This development runs contrary to Nigeria’s laws regulating the Oil and Gas industry as it does not protect our national interest.

    “This is an imperialist agenda that must not be allowed to stay; most especially as we have just finished celebrating our 60th independence as a sovereign country,” the duo said.

    Earlier in a statement, Chevron’s General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, said the welfare and safety of its workforce was one of its highest priorities.

    Brikinn said: “Making changes to the organisation is never easy for anyone that will be impacted, but it is to improve our ability to remain competitive in Nigeria.

    “Reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of our operations are critical to generating more revenues for the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.

  • PENGASSAN, NUPENG announce date to commence disruption of oil, gas operations nationwide

    PENGASSAN, NUPENG announce date to commence disruption of oil, gas operations nationwide

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), alongside the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have threatened to disrupt oil and gas operations across the country by Sunday, August 16, should the Federal Government fail to pay their salaries, Friday.

    The protesting senior oil workers commenced the peaceful protests on Wednesday and gathered at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta state, Thursday, in continuation of their three-day warning strike.

    The protesters, clad in red attires, bore placards with inscriptions such as “No To Forceful Enrollment into IPPIS”; Release Our Salaries Now or No Dialogue” and “We Are Not Against IPPIS but Create Another Platform That Addresses Our Peculiarities” amongst others.

    Addressing the members, Vice Chairman, Warri Zonal Council of PENGASSAN and Secretary of Regulators Forum, Prince Audu Oshiokhamele warned that if their salaries are not released by Friday then all oil operations will be shut down by midnight of Sunday.

    “I want to assure you, our Union members, that if our salaries are not released before Friday (tomorrow), by 12 midnight, on Sunday we will shut down the whole nation. What we are just doing now is a warning protest, but by Sunday, the music will change,” he warned.

    Prince Oshiokhamele, who was in company of Mr. James Esiomor, PTI branch Chairman of PENGASSAN and Mr. Ejokirhie Jahpurpose, Chairman of PTI branch of NUPENG, expressed surprise that the Federal Ministry of Finance claimed ignorance of non-payment of their salaries in the last three months, but are now making efforts to placate the Union.

    “We are surprised that the Ministry of Finance, on Wednesday, denied that they are not aware that our salaries have been stopped, while they are making every effort to see how they can placate the Union. They can’t placate us until our salaries are paid,” he said.

    The Warri Zonal Council Vice Chairman of PENGASSAN noted that the only solution to their threat is for the Federal Government to pay the salaries of the protesting workers by today before they can return for negotiations on the IPPIS issue.

    While not against the implementation of the IPPIS policy, Prince Oshiokhamele explained that they are clamouring for the creation of another platform that will take care of peculiarities in their operations which is different from that of core civil servants.

    Recalling that the issue concerning their work peculiarities was first raised in 2016, he said a tripartite committee was set up under the then Minister of Trade without success because the Director of IPPIS failed to attend meetings to find a solution.

    “Again, in November last year, another committee was set up in order for us to ensure that the peculiarities under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum are captured and still nothing has come out of that. We can’t operate under IPPIS as put in place now because no two workers earn the same salaries. All our salaries are performance driven.

    “All efforts to meet IPPIS Director to simulate how he is going to capture our peculiarities have failed. Enough is enough; we can’t be slaves in our own country. If by tomorrow, we don’t get our salaries be rest assured that we will shut down all oil operations. That’s the only language they understand,” he emphasized.

  • NUPENG suspends strike in Lagos

    NUPENG suspends strike in Lagos

    Fuel tanker drivers under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have suspended their strike in Lagos State.

    The union took the decision on Monday following a meeting between its leadership and representatives of the state government.

    A communique jointly signed by the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and the Deputy National President of NUPENG, Solomon Kilanko, was issued at the end of the meeting.

    It contains the seven agreements reached by the union and the government which lead to the suspension of the industrial action of the tanker drivers in the state.

    Some of the challenges faced by tanker drivers such as security agencies, ‘area boys’, ad-hoc levies, bad roads, overloading, the timing of movement, and coordination, formed the critical issues discussed at the meeting.

    Both parties resolved that the state government would meet with the heads of all security agencies and secure their commitment to ensuring the free passage of petroleum products vehicles given their importance to the economy.

    They also agreed to ask relevant government agencies to tackle the menace of ‘area boys’ and establish a dedicated phone number within the next week, to ensure that petroleum products transporters have prompt access to security agencies.

    The meeting resolved to investigate extra-ordinary levies by a particular local government and ask local government authorities to only collect legally due levies.

    On the issue of bad roads, the state government said it would continue to relate with all road users in the planning and execution of road works in the state.

    NUPENG, on its part, promised to ensure all tankers were loaded within the capacities provided for in the regulation and communicated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    “Lagos State will, within the next one week, review the restriction of the timing of movement of the petroleum tankers and advise a resolution to ease their access to the tank farms. Union also notes that the ongoing road works are a temporary inhibitor of movement.

    “Lagos State government will immediately set up a standing committee to relate with the union on an ongoing basis to address any issues as they arise,” the statement read.

    Read the full communique issued at the end of the meeting below:

  • Fresh fuel scarcity looms in Lagos today as NUPENG’s talks with LASG end in deadlock

    Fresh fuel scarcity looms in Lagos today as NUPENG’s talks with LASG end in deadlock

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said that the planned strike by Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos would start on Monday as its meeting with Lagos State Government ended in deadlock.

    The South-West Chairman of NUPENG, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.

    Aboyeji said the issues which forced the drivers to initiate an indefinite strike was not addressed during the four-hour meeting with officials of Lagos State Government on Sunday.

    “They only promised to get back to us after we have told them what we want to avert the strike.

    “Now, our stand still remains that they should address the issues of extortion and harassment of our members by security agents.

    “Security agents and hoodlums are extorting our members and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management use taser on our drivers and this can kill.

    “Since they are not ready to address these issues, we will start the strike on Monday morning until they are able to resolve them.

    “It is unfortunate that the strike might affect all other states in the federation because most of them load their petroleum products in Lagos depots.

    “We are not happy to disrupt fuel supply because we know the effect but we cannot continue to cope with the problems,” he said.

    Aboyeji said that members of PTD were now accusing NUPENG of taking side with security agents to molest and assault drivers on Lagos roads.

    TheNewsGuru.Com, TNG reports that the National President of the NUPENG, Mr Williams Akporeha, had in a statement on Friday directed tanker drivers to begin the withdrawal of their services as from 12:midnight on Monday.

  • Just in: NUPENG orders tanker drivers to withdraw from Lagos

    Just in: NUPENG orders tanker drivers to withdraw from Lagos

    Petroleum tanker drivers may withdraw their services from Lagos from Monday based on a directive from national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    NUPENG said on Friday the directive followed failure to address three major issues causing tanker drivers pains in the state for months.

    Its National President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, gave the directive in a statement titled “NUPENG leadership directs withdrawal of services by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State with effect from Monday, August 10, 2020.”

    They said: “The entire rank and file members of the union are deeply pained, frustrated and agonised by the barrage of these challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State and are left with no other option but to direct the withdrawal of their services in Lagos State until the Lagos State Government and other relevant stakeholders address these critical challenges.
    T
    “It is sad and disheartening to note here that we had made several appeals and reports to the Lagos State Government and the Presidential Task Force for the decongestion of Apapa on these challenges but all to no avail.

    “We resolved to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from 12 am, Monday, August 10, 2020 if there are no decisive and convincing actions from the Lagos State Government to address these concerns and challenges.”

  • Alleged sack of 184 contract staff by NNPC: NUPENG may shut down operations in 17 states

    Alleged sack of 184 contract staff by NNPC: NUPENG may shut down operations in 17 states

    Disturbed by the alleged sacking of 184 members of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, NUPENG, by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,the union has vowed to shut down operations in 17 states in the north and Abuja if proper negotiations are not carried out.

    TNG scooped that the Kaduna zone of the union after an exhaustive meeting with members last week issued a communique demanding that NNPC should withdraw the already distributed sack letters to the contract staff.

    A source privy to this development told TNG that”it’s alarming that despite this lockdown they still had the guts to sack members without even a formal meeting with the union.

    “A letter has been sent to all major stakeholders to stay action pending proper negotiations with parties involved in this act.

    “In the letter dated April 2, the union said”NNPC instructed their contactors to unilaterally pay terminal benefits to lay off workers without the Union’s input.

    As a union we are demanding that the whole process should be put on hold pending proper consultation.

    It’s unfortunate that we hear contractors have started issuing disengagement letters and paying severance fees without our knowledge.

    Failure by NNPC Management to heed this request will compel the Union to use civil disobedience means like withdrawing her members e. g, Petrol Tanker workers and Petrol stations workers from distributing and dispensing petoleum products across the 17 northern states under the Kaduna Zonal Council of NUPENG including Abuja.

    Recall that the Rivers State zone of NUPENG had issued a similar threat over the alleged sacking of 175 refinery workers demanding for an immediate reinstatement within 72hours or they will embark on strike.

    But the swift intervention of the Union’s leadership saved the day.

  • Scarcity looms as tanker drivers suspend fuel distribution

    Scarcity looms as tanker drivers suspend fuel distribution

    Most of the petroleum stations in Badagry communities have closed as the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG) suspended distribution of fuel to the city.

    Mr Tayo Aboyeji, Chairman, South-West Chapter of the union told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry that the suspension was due to harassment and molestation of its members by men of Customs and Army in the area.

    The chairman said that the customs under the Joint Border Patrol operations arrested a tanker driver who missed its way in Badagry and drove it to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    The customs was of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja.

    “A tanker driver from Port Harcourt was sent to Badagry to deliver petroleum to a station, unfortunately, he missed his way and while asking for direction, the tanker driver was arrested by the men of joint border patrol.

    “The tanker was taken to FOU in Ikeja. I wrote to the Controller on the issue and met DC Enforcement on the matter and I was directed to the Officer in Charge of Legal issues in same office.

    “OC Legal told me that he had not received the file from joint patrol operation office and promised to call me later.

    “But surprisingly, our enforcement unit in Agbara stopped a tanker to check his paper to find out if its delivery documents were intact, but there were errors in his documents,” he said.

    Aboyeji said that the NUPENG enforcement team thought it was a stolen product, adding that they did not know that it was a product that was under investigation that had been sold to a buyer.

    ” Thinking that it was a stolen product, they drove it to Area K Police Command in Morogbo.