Emerging report indicates that the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, have suspended their planned strike, with immediate effect, after an intervention by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC.
The parties also pledged collaboration on ensuring nationwide availability of petroleum products.
The suspension notice was made known in a communique, following a critical Stakeholders engagement between NNPC, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG, on Thursday, in Abuja.
The communique was jointly signed by Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the NNPC, Otunba Salmon Oladiti, National Chairman, PTD, Mr. Yusuf Otthman, NARTO President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, NUPENG President, and Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director, Finance and Admin, NMDPRA.
Recall, that NUPENG and PTD had planned to embark on a strike, following allegations that Officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing were diverting the funds provided by NNPC for the rehabilitation of 21 critical highways.
On the road rehabilitation, the communique said that NNPC provided updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects, under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
It added that NNPC assured the Stakeholders that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads would be applied for the intended purpose only.
“To allay the fears of the Stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of the road projects.”
On review of freight rate for transporters, the communique noted that the Stakeholders requested for the completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs.
It noted that the Stakeholders highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in the light of the current economic realities.
It further noted that the NMDPRA informed the meeting that a Committee was constituted to review the rates which included PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG, in addition to other Stakeholders.
It stated that all parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the government.
According to the communique, the authority is to advise on definite close-out date during the week of February 21.
“The parties also agreed to foster collaboration on ensuring nationwide availability of petroleum products.
“All parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country”, it said.
