Ill treatment of workers: NUPENG gives NARTO, IOCs 21-day ultimatum

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has given the International Oil Companies (IOCs), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Ministry of Labour a 21-day ultimatum, beginning from today, to reverse anti-labour practices against its members. Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, NUPENG national president, William Akporeha expressed the union displeasure […]

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has given the International Oil Companies (IOCs), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Ministry of Labour a 21-day ultimatum, beginning from today, to reverse anti-labour practices against its members.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, NUPENG national president, William Akporeha expressed the union displeasure over failure of Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), employers of tanker drivers, to implement the Collective Beginning Agreement (CBA) reached with the union since 2016, saying it`s just a few months to the expiration of the said agreement. He said that NARTO members have refused and failed to honour the agreement or follow the path of integrity by executing what the association assented to.

He said the tanker drivers have shown considerable endurance, patience and tolerance in the face of blatant deprivation and denial of their legitimate rights, even while toiling days and nights under excruciating working conditions to move the nation’s economy forward.

Akporeha also condemned how oil and gas workers in the industry are being treated by the multinational companies who use them as slaves in their motherland.

“These portfolio investors cannot continue to make billions in our country while their employees who are Nigerians suffer gross impoverishment and other precarious conditions. Sadly, this is reducing their life expectancy and creating physical and psychological adverse effects in them. This can no longer be tolerated,” he said.