BREAKING: NNPC intervenes As NARTO And NUPENG-PTD Suspend Planned Strike Over 21 Critical Road Project [VIDEO]—-Parties Pledge Collaboration on Ensuring Nation Wide Availability of Petroleum Products—-Following the intervention of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union have suspended their plan to embark on strike.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that the suspension was announced on Thursday night.
The decision to suspend the strike was reached after a meeting was held with the two unions by the management of the NNPC led by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
Read the COMMUNIQUE Below:
COMMUNIQUE ON CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN NARTO, PTD, NUPENG, NMDPRA AND NNPC LTD ON FEBRUARY 17, 2022 AT NNPC TOWERS
Following the engagement between NMDPRA, NNPC, PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG, the parties resolved as follows:
- Road Rehabilitation
NNPC provided updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects under the road infrastructure tax credit scheme and assured the stakeholders (NUPENG, NARTO and PTD) that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only.
To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of the road projects. - Review of freight rate for transporters
The stakeholders requested for completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs and highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in the light of current economic realities.
NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which includes PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.
All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government. The Authority to advise on definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022. - Collaboration on ensuring Nationwide availability of petroleum products
All parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.
Recall, NARTO had last week threatened to withdraw haulage service should the Federal Government fail to urgently address the rising cost of operation that its members are facing.