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14 July, 2008
A four-day strike by 10,000 workers of the Petroleum Tank-Truck Drivers’ Branch of ICEM affiliate NUPENG in Nigeria was suspended this morning, 14 July, for two weeks. A memorandum of understanding was reached in a four-hour meeting Saturday between the union and Ministry of Petroleum, calling on all parties to meet tomorrow, 15 July, in Abuja in efforts to resolve a range of issues.
NUPENG President Peter Akpatason said if the talks beginning Tuesday are not successful, the union will not hesitate to renew the strike on 28 July. “This is a matter of drivers’ welfare,” said Akpatason. “We will not tolerate high petrol prices, inadequate roads and access to and from refineries and depots, and a continuation of the low salaries that drivers receive.”
NUPENG President Peter Akpatason
The ICEM is supportive of the drivers’ demands, and urges the various government ministries, as well as the handful of employers’ groups to accede to NUPENG’s agenda tomorrow to bring safety and security to Nigeria’s roads and fair pay to petroleum tank-truck drivers.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Petroleum agreed to begin the process to reduce the price of diesel fuel, just one of several issues that brought on the 10 July strike. NUPENG had given two separate ultimatums to resolve issues, a 21-day one at the end of May and a seven-day one on 3 July.
Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to include officials from the Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Ministry of Work and Housing, and the State Security Services, as well as road police senior officers. It will also include top officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), independent fuel-oil marketers, and other transporters.
According to Saturday’s memorandum, the meeting is intended to set guidelines on lowering diesel fuel and kerosene prices. Discussion is also expected to establish a firm timetable to improve highways and access roads around refineries and duel depots.
The issue of salaries will also be heard. NUPENG’s three-year collective agreement with NARTO expired in May and average pay for drivers has been stuck at NGN 10,500-per-month (US$100) since 2005. With overwhelming inflation in the country, NUPENG is seeking an increase in salaries to between NGN 30,000 and 40,000 per month.
NUPENG contends that the deplorable state of roads has caused accidents, deaths, and horrendous losses of productivity and time away from families. The high cost of fuel has made petroleum product distribution unprofitable, with severe hardships placed on small businesses and citizens alike. NUPENG is calling on NNPC and the government to halt the sale of petrol products to middle-men and other dealers, who increase products to retail outlets by as much as 300%.