The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) issued a strong warning on Sunday, expressing their intention to pull out of the oil union if the NUPENG National President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, failed to resign from their positions.
In a statement released in Abuja and jointly signed by Gbenga Olawale and Adekunle Rufai of PTD, Ibadan Depot, the tanker drivers revealed plans to stage protests across the country. As a symbolic gesture, they placed plant leaves in front of their trucks to signal their dissatisfaction. Additionally, they raised concerns about alleged interference and incessant harassment of their leaders by NUPENG and the police.
The drivers argued that the NUPENG president lacked the necessary qualifications to lead the union, as he had no prior membership in the oil union. According to their claims, Williams was previously employed as a cook in an oil company within the formal sector.
They alleged that he was dismissed by the company while holding the position of national treasurer in NUPENG. The drivers further asserted that Williams was later drafted into the Petrol Station Workers Union of NUPENG to facilitate his candidacy for the position of NUPENG President. They criticized this as a violation of the NUPENG constitution, asserting that Williams lacked the requisite experience and capacity to hold the position.
Furthermore, the drivers accused the NUPENG president of appointing surrogates to divert the union’s revenue for personal benefit. They expressed solidarity with Lucky Osusan and Dayyab Garaga, individuals who they believed had dedicated their lives to the struggle for liberation within the union.
In response to these allegations, NUPENG’s General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, dismissed the claims as false. He stated that the faction that issued the statement was not composed of PTD members. Afolabi further revealed that the leaders of the faction had been arrested and were being held in Kuje prison in Abuja. He conveyed that the court had ordered their detention in connection with an attack against NUPENG.
The PTD’s threat to withdraw from NUPENG exposes the growing tensions within the oil union. The dispute raises questions about leadership competence, adherence to union constitutions, and allegations of financial impropriety. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached to address the concerns raised by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, or if the threat of division within NUPENG will persist.
