Fuel Scarcity Panic: Tanker Drivers Call off Indefinite Strike After First Day

It was a big relief yes­terday as the Petro­leum Tanker Drivers (PTD) wing of the Ni­geria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) suspended its planned indefinite strike af­ter the first day.
Confirming the suspen­sion yesterday evening, the South West Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Mr Tokunbo Korodo, wrote via SMS, “We have just finished discussion with the federal government and the strike has been sus­pended now.”

Before the union called off the strike, the federal gov­ernment granted some of their requests.
Also yesterday, NUPENG President, Mr. Igwe Achese, said that after an extensive meeting between the union and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Monday in Abu­ja, the strike had been called off.
At the meeting, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, said that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had approved an increase of the tanker drivers’ bridging allowance from N6.20 to N7.20.
The oil drivers had com­menced an industrial action earlier on Monday to press home their demand for im­proved welfare.
Achese, who announced over the weekend that mem­bers of the union would withdraw their services, raised concerns that Nigeri­ans may experience another round of fuel supply crisis.
He noted that the grouse of the drivers are poor work­ing conditions and welfare package, among others.
The NUPENG President said the federal government had ignored several appeals by the union to help improve the welfare of the drivers.