‘We introduced it’ — PTD counters NUPENG over health insurance scheme for tanker drivers

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), says it is the brain behind the health insurance programme for tanker drivers. 

The association stated its position in a joint statement signed by Lucky Osesua, its fractional chairman, and Humble Power, the national secretary. 

Last week, the NUPENG said it initiated the health insurance cover for members in the PTD arm of the union. 

Afolabi Olawale, general secretary of the union, had said the scheme is in “furtherance of one of the key objectives of our great union, which is to cater to the working and socio/economic conditions of our members”. 

But countering the NUPENG general secretary’s announcement, Osesua urged the tanker drivers to disregard his stance on the “reintroduction and launch of the health insurance scheme”.

He said the scheme, initially designed for the welfare of union drivers and officers, is now “shrouded in secrecy”, with “altered signatories and a lack of transparency and accountability”.

“The attention of the National leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has been drawn to the offer of the General Secretary of the Union, Afolabi Olawale and the President, Williams Akporeha to launch and reintroduce an existing health insurance scheme which was introduced by me earlier in my tenure,” the statement reads. 

“But unfortunately the duo have deliberately manipulated the health insurance scheme, making it so obnoxious for our members to key into, due to the regime of multiple taxes, levies and rates being introduced at various depots and loading stations. 

“Putting the records straight, my humble self and my deputy, Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga alongside the entire executives introduced the health insurance scheme for our drivers to have a new lease of life and access to quality and affordable health care in any part of the country once they tender their automated identity cards which contain their biometrics.”

The PTD leaders urged the members to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

“We are still surprised why the General Secretary of our parent union will be among signatories to PTD’s bank accounts, especially the one for the health insurance scheme and others,” they said.