PETROAN: FG’s intervention in NUPENG-Dangote row yielding positive results

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) says the federal government’s intervention has yielded positive results in the dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote refinery.

On September 5, NUPENG said workers will down their tools and start sourcing for alternative employment from Monday.

PETROAN also announced plans to suspend the lifting and dispensing of petroleum products for three days, from September 9, in support of NUPENG.

Speaking during Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ programme on Monday, Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN’s national president, said there has been dialogue among stakeholders to reach a compromise.

“We have called the government to intervene, and that has yielded a lot of positive results. As of yesterday, there has been a lot of consultation going on among the stakeholders and also the regulators,” he said.

“We believe that there will be a solution, and the solution is simple- everybody should be at the table. Let all of us do what we must do cooperatively to ensure that Nigerians are served more efficiently. That’s the whole story.

“It’s much better for efficiency that all retail outlets must belong to a union. If not, then you go to a station and buy one litre for maybe N2,000, and then you get to other places and buy for N800, and there will be no sanctions because there is no union for internal control.”

Speaking further, Gillis-Harry said workers’ rights were being violated, which prompted NUPENG’s decision to declare a “warning strike”.

“It is not that they have gone on strike. But they are giving a warning that the situation can become very tasking and troublesome for Nigerians. So let us all get it solved, and I think it is the right idea,” he said.

“For PEROAN, don’t forget that the most critical aspect of our operations is our retail outlets staff, and the people who are handling these are in the union. So once the NUPENG strike takes effect, our stations will effectively be locked up.”

On September 7, the federal government appealed to NUPENG to suspend its planned nationwide strike, while scheduling a reconciliation meeting for Monday.