We’re not joining planned protest, say petrol tanker drivers

Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) says it has no plans to partake in the planned nationwide protest.

PTD is an association under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Augustine Egbon, national chairman of the PTD-NUPENG, in a statement on Wednesday, said some members intend to make themselves available to promote the protest.

There have been reports of a youth-led nationwide protest over the rising cost of living and economic hardship.

The protest is reportedly slated for August 1.

Egbon’s declaration followed an online report attributed to Olaitan Idris, a member of the union, who said mass protest and an industrial crisis loom in the union over the continued parading of some persons as PTD elected executive officers in “total breach of court order”.

He said the declaration of an impending crisis was not true and described it as a wild claim.

According to PTD, Idris said the election of Egbon and Oluchi Chinagorom as the national chairman and national secretary, respectively, — at a recent special delegates conference held in Lagos — was not supported by the majority of PTD members.

Denying the claim, Egbon said members across the zones and the 150 units of the PTD-NUPENG were fully represented in the election held in Lagos with representatives of the ministry of labour in attendance.

He asked security agencies to invite Olaitan, whom he alleged was being used by forces bent on collaborating with masterminds of the August protest, for interrogation.

“There was no truth in the claim made by the so called Comrade Idris who claimed to be a member of the Union. We don’t even know him in any of our units,” the national chairman said.

“Nigerians should disregard rumours of strike by our Union. Those saying that are people planning for the August protest. 

“The PTD- NUPENG under my leadership are 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 threat of strike at this critical period in our industry.”

He said the election held in Lagos was done in compliance with due process.

Egbon said duly accredited delegates voted freely “without any molestation,” electing candidates of their choice.