Lagos: NUPENG reaches agreement, calls off petrol tanker drivers’ strike

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to their earlier-in-day strike over failure of the appropriate authorities to reach an agreement with them on outstanding issues, the fuel tanker drivers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have suspended their strike in Lagos State of Nigeria.

NUPENG took the decision Monday, August 10, after a meeting between the Union’s leadership and representatives of the state government.

Olalere Odusote, Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, and Solomon Kilanko, Deputy National President of NUPENG, jointly signed and issued a communiqué at the end of the meeting.

The statement contains the seven agreements reached both by the Union and the state government which led to the suspension of the industrial action of the tanker drivers in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

According to the communiqué, 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 peace meeting.

Both parties were said to have 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.

The parties also agreed to ask relevant government agencies to tackle the menace of ‘area boys’ and establish a dedicated phone number within the next week so as 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).

It reads in part: “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.”