COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE PETROLEUM TANKER DRIVERS BRANCH OF NUPENG EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 27TH MARCH 2021 AT MANHATTAN HALL, JERICHO, IBADAN, OYO STATE.

In compliance with the constitutional provisions of NUPENG and Bye Laws of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG, the Branch Executive meeting was convened and properly held on the 27th day of March 2021 at Mahattan Hall at Jericho, Ibadan in Oyo State.

In attendance at the meeting include the President of NUPENG, Comrade Prince William Akporeha, the General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Comrade Salmon Akanni Oladiti and all other national officers of the Branch.

Several topical national issues affecting our members in particular and the nation in general were raised and extensively discussed.

After an exhaustive deliberation on all issues raised, the Branch Executive Council in session agreed and resolved that two major issues that impact directly on the conditions of work, welfare and safety of lives and properties of our members and general public must be immediately and urgently acted upon by the Union and all relevant governmental agencies.

1. UNBEARABLE WORKING CONDITIONS OF PETROLEUM TANKER DRIVERS:

The Branch Executive Council in session observed with grave concerns the reluctance of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners to negotiate the renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for new working conditions for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers.

The meeting in session noted with deep pains that the expiring collective bargaining agreement has been in operation for the past six years even when the country has been experiencing spiral inflationary trend that is further complicated by destructive powers of COVID 19 Pandemic.

The council in session expressed deep worries that Petroleum Tanker Drivers have been going through harrowing financial situations even while rendering selfless national services, to ensure delivery of Petroleum products to homes and factories in every nook and crannies of this country, day and nights, in good and bad weather and on highly deplorable highways.

The Branch executive council in session therefore resolved that following the continuing agitations of our members and the seeming hesitation of NARTO to negotiate the renewal of the CBA, the branch will no longer be able to guarantee the continued service of our members in the petroleum products distribution across the country if a new conditions of service for Petroleum Tanker Drivers is not provided for in the next fourteen days with effect from today 27th day of March 2021.

2. PETROLEUM TRUCKS SAFETY VALVE:

The Branch Executive Council in session discussed with sadness, pains and deep worries, the increasing rate of fire incidences involving petroleum trucks with accompanying massive destruction of lives and properties of our members and general public.

The Council in session noted with deep concerns the government’s dilly dallying attitude towards the enforcement of the compulsory installation of Safety Valves in all Petroleum trucks to protect the inflammable contents of these trucks from spilling over in a situation of road mishaps.

The council in session expressed disappointment over the failure of the Federal Government to live up to its various commitments with various stakeholders in several meetings called by the government on the same matter. Insensitive government officials and unscrupulous businessmen will no longer be allowed to keep destroying the lives of our members and innocent general public. These fire accidents are becoming too many but definitely avoidable.

It is in the well informed opinion of the council in session that these safety valves if installed will go a long way in reducing the rate of fire accidents involving petroleum trucks and therefore save precious lives and properties.

In the light of the above, the Executive Council in session resolved to direct all our members to withdraw their services if installation of Safety valve is not made mandatory in all petroleum trucks with effect from 1st of May 2021, in view of the fact that our members are usually the first casualties in any situation of fire accidents involving petroleum trucks.

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 but these are hard and difficult decisions we must take for the sake of our members and even the general public.

Our Solidarity remains constant for the Union makes us strong.

Chairman.
Comrade Salmon Akanni Oladiti.