The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing and some politicians of diverting N621billion funds budgeted for the repairs of 21 deplorable and critical federal roads across the country, while the conditions of the roads have worsened and unmotorable nationwide.
The union claimed that officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing were now going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August, 2021 to justify payment made from the N621billion approved in October, 2021for the identified 21 critical roads.
In a statement, yesterday,NUPENG’s President, Prince Williams Akporeha; and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale; threatened to declare a nationwide strike without notice demanding immediate stoppage to fund releases among others.
The union demanded the setting up of a competent monitoring and validation team comprising all those stakeholders, the pre award pictures of the 21 identified roads taken to be compared with pictures of post repairs/reconstruction situation, immediate review of transport freight rates to reflect the operational realities of the petroleum distribution value chain, among others.
NUPENG recalled the concerns of the National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), on Wednesday, February 8, 2022, and the President of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), on Thursday, February 10, 2021, explaining the reasons behind the increasing deterioration of health and safety provisions for PTD members and the rising number of roads and fire accidents involving the petroleum trucks across the country.
Among others, the statement reads: “In as much as we understand the unfortunate situation the transporters have found themselves, NUPENG, as a responsible and responsive trade union organisation cannot afford to sit idle and watch her able bodied members continued to be wasted away as sacrificial items as well as the wanton destruction of millions of public lives and properties, so as to manage the operational costs by transporters due to inadequate freight rates being paid to them.
“Many of our members have constantly been lodging complaints of being forced to drive with worn-out tyres and other unsafe vehicular parts thereby putting their safety at high risk.
“More worrisome is the fact that the conditions of work of these drivers have remained same for more than six years now and the transporters have been foot- dragging in committing to a revised collective Bargaining Agreement for the conditions of work for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers due to high cost of operations and low freight rates.
“You will all recall that at the end of the quarterly Branch Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, held at PTD House, Emene, Enugu on the 25th of September, 202l, the union issued a firm and decisive ultimatum on the deplorable state of the federal highways and the painful experiences of our members while carrying out their duties across the country.
“The management team of NNPC under Mallam Mele Kyari immediately apprehended the situation then to avert the situation of industrial action of the union, by calling the leadership of the union to two separate meetings on the 10th of October, 2O21in lbadan and 12th October, 2021 in Abuja.
“In attendance at the 12th October were critical Stakeholders such as the FIRS, FRSC, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners and NUPENG.
“These two meetings resulted into signing of communiqué indicating the readiness and willingness of NNPC to finance the rehabilitation of identified 21 critical roads at an estimated sum of N621billion through Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
“On the basis of this communiqué, the union suspended the intended industrial action, but we were very clear in our statement, that should the spirit and letter of the agreement not fully implemented with focus on those jointly identified critical roads or attempt is made to divert the funds, the union will not give further warning to resume the intended actions.
“You will recall the proposal was tabled before the Federal Executive Council and was graciously approved by Federal Executive Council in-session. Unfortunately, our worst fear concerning the struggle is gradually unfolding with information coming out from reliable sources that some elements in the garbs of being state governments, officials of Ministry of Works and Housing and desperate politicians are already dipping their soiled hands into these funds and diverting them to roads already budgeted for and done since last year.
“The officials of Ministry of Works and Housing are going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the N621billion which was approved in October, 2021for the identified 21 critical roads.
“We have our facts and figures, and we shall not be cowed into allowing the N621billion to go same way others budgeted funds have gone. We demand immediate halt to further release of the fund until that a competent monitoring and validation team comprising all those stakeholders that signed the communiqué is formed.
“The pre award pictures of the 21 identified roads are taken, which will be compared with pictures of post repairs/reconstruction situation. The N621billion was approved because of our demand and struggle; therefore, we owe our members and the general public the responsibility to ensure that every kobo of the approved fund is accounted for. Taxpayers’ money must be accounted for.
“Immediate review of transport freight rates to reflect the operational realities of the petroleum distribution value chain. For these critical issues, we have the mandate of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union to commence immediate mobilisation of all our members for resumption of our earlier suspended action.
“We hereby plead with the general public to please bear with us as our action may resume without further notice and that these issues raised are of and should be of national concerns.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. We urge every patriotic Nigerians to also rise up and join us in this struggle, this is not a fight for NUPENG alone, it is our collective fight.”