We’re Not Part Of August Protest, Says PTD-NUPENG

The national secretariat of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has alleged moves to infiltrate its ranks by individuals bent on making themselves available for the August 1, 2024, planned protest by Nigerian youths,

The national chairman of the PTD-NUPENG, Comrade Augustine Egbon raised the alarm in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

Egbon’s declaration followed an online report attributed to a member of the union, Comrade Olaitan Idris, who vowed that an industrial crisis was imminent.

The recent special delegates conference held in Lagos, where Comrades Augustine Egbon and Oluchi Chinagorom were elected as the national chairman and national secretary, respectively, along with 15 others, did not enjoy the support of the union members.

He also demanded a fresh election to forestall a major industrial crisis.

But Egbon maintained that the declaration of impending crisis was a wild claim.

He said members across the zones and the 150 units of the PTD-NUPENG were represented in the election held in Lagos, with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in attendance.

He alerted the security agencies to invite Comrade Olaitan over the August protest.

Egbon said, “Nigerians should disregard rumours of a strike by our union. Those saying that are people planning for the August protest.

“The PTD- NUPENG under my leadership is not going on strike as there was no reason for it.

“ We are not going to partake in any August protest. I urge the federal government to fish out those issuing threats of a strike at this critical period in our industry.

The PTD-NUPENG chairman restated that the election held in Lagos followed due process.

“ Duly accredited delegates voted freely without molestation and they elected candidates of their choice.

“We recall that those who decided to boycott the election at the last minute actually picked Forms, which they submitted to the electoral committee. They had earlier gone to the Industrial Court in Abuja seeking an injunction to stop the election, but they were not granted.

“ If they have any genuine case, they should seek redress before the National Industrial Court rather than creating panic in the industry.

“We restate that the special delegates exercise conducted in Lagos where I was returned as National Chairman along with fifteen others as national officers was in full compliance with the judgment of the NIC under its Lordship, Justice O Y Anuwe of the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja which on May 29, 2024, annulled the previous election of the union held in Ibadan, last October.”

“The election conducted in Lagos was done with strict compliance with the NUPENG Constitution and the PTD Bye-Laws.

“Nigerians should ignore the jesters parading themselves as members of our Union. They are  being used by fifth columnists desperate to create panic in the country,” he said.