Business
Tanker Drivers Give NUPENG Ultimatum To Hold Elections

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has issued a 21-day ultimatum to leadership of the union to leave office and conduct fresh elections.
Mr Salimon Oladiti and Mr Sunday Ochibejivwe, the PTD National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, issued the ultimatum in a statement in Lagos.
They said that the tenure of the present executive of NUPENG ended in October 2017.
According to them, we are all aware that Igwe Achese-led National Executive Council of NUPENG were elected and sworn in sometimes in December 2009 for the first term of four years.
“He was re-elected for another four years in December 2013 in Port Harcourt, Rivers.
“He has served the two consecutive terms provided in the union’s constitution and legally ends in October 2017.
“Yet, Achese and his team extended the tenure beyond October 2017.
“At a Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Council (NEC) meetings of the union in December, 2017 the matter generated heated debate.
“The General Secretary requested for grace of 90 days within which to convene the National Delegates Conference.
“This request was in breach of the union’s constitution, because there was no justification whatsoever for it,” said the PTD leaders.
They said that after the expiration of the 90 days on March 3, there was no new date or venue communicated to members or branches for the National Delegates Conference.
“It is very obvious that there is a ploy to create disaffection and avoidable industrial crisis in the oil and gas industry with all these action and inaction.
“We are, therefore, notifying you, that if by March 28, the conference of the union is not convened, the new officers of PTD branch of the union, will take steps needed to restore the constitutionality and integrity of the union.
“We urge the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to intervene and compel the General Secretary to convene the conference before March 28.
“This is to prevent an impending intra-union and industrial crisis in the oil and gas industry, which continuing staying in office of the leaders might cause,” they said.