NUPENG raises alarm over blackmail, smuggling allegations on social media

*Says depot collections ungraded is axenic propaganda

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has decried what it described arsenic a coordinated run of blackmail, misinformation and outright lies targeted astatine tarnishing its representation connected societal media.

In a circular to members, NUPENG dismissed arsenic “pure propaganda” claims that its officials were aiding smuggling, collecting N1 connected each litre of petroleum products brought into Nigeria, oregon moving arsenic portion of a “cabal” that allegedly sabotaged government-owned refineries.

According to the union, “There is simply a batch of blackmail, distortion of facts, and misinformation circulating connected societal media astir us. Those down these attacks are pained by our triumph successful the unionisation battles against them, and they are retired for revenge by maligning our estimation and activities.

“Please, bash not beryllium discouraged by the antagonistic stories being spread. Social media is afloat of uninformed radical who person entree to phones and information and tin station thing without facts oregon accountability.

“The latest falsehoods see claims that we assistance smuggling, cod N1.00 connected each litre of petroleum products brought into Nigeria, and beryllium to the alleged “cabal” that allegedly destroyed government-owned refineries. Some radical are besides throwing astir random figures astir collections astatine assorted depots.
“We are sharing this clarification truthful that our members stay well-informed. You should recognize that employees successful the downstream assemblage enactment chiefly successful the informal system — they bash not person structured jobs oregon employment. These workers see tanker drivers, depot staff, and employees of marketers stationed astatine depots.
“There are besides associations astatine these depots, specified arsenic the Truck Owners Association, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, IPMAN, and Major Marketers Association. All of these commercialized unions cod dues from their members wrong the worth chain, but they are seldom visible, whereas Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, members, a subdivision NUPENG are much prominent.
“Nigerians often deficiency empathy for others, and due to the fact that they find the powerfulness and interaction of our strikes inconvenient — careless of the reasons for our concern actions — they privation america retired of the mode astatine each costs.
“Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions, NASU, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and others tin onslaught for years without drafting nationalist anger, provided their actions bash not disrupt businesses, movement, oregon income. But the infinitesimal tanker drivers instrumentality action, the backlash is immediate. “Employers besides dislike negotiating with us, truthful everything antagonistic is thrown our way. There are galore commercialized unions and associations astatine petroleum depots, each with its ain responsibilities. They often trust connected our representatives to assistance cod dues from their members, who are usually reluctant to pay.
“We bid sizeable power and respect — thing that infuriates many. PTD-NUPENG is simply a commercialized national whose members are employees of motortruck owners. They wage national dues to NUPENG, which are utilized for: Safety training: Quarterly programmes successful each zone, conducted with the FRSC, police, occurrence service, authorities VIO, and different postulation enforcement agencies. These outgo important resources.
“Health insurance: No leader provides wellness screen for tanker drivers, yet they transport highly flammable products for agelong hours. To forestall accidents caused by illness, we established a wellness security strategy with Leadway Health Insurance for each petroleum tanker driver.
“Highway security: We support dedicated funds to mobilise information agencies to support drivers against hijackers, kidnappers, and different criminals on large routes. No 1 provides this work for free.
“Union administration: A information of dues is utilized to enactment the national itself. The Association of Truck Owners besides collects fees from its members whenever they load products astatine depots. Marketers, including IPMAN (Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria), person employees who beryllium to NUPENG and besides wage dues to their association.
“The Major...