The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which is the mother body of Petroleum and Tanker Drivers (PTD), has described the decision by Dangote Refinery to deploy 10,000 CNG tankers for the movement of petroleum products around the country as a monopoly of the Nigerian petroleum sector.
They also stated that the action is anti-labour and inimical to the survival and means of livelihood of members of the PTD branch of NUPENG.
The tanker drivers posited that drivers recruited by Dangote Refinery for the operations of the CNG tankers will not be allowed to join any trade union, saying Dangote Refinery’s action is an affront to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the international labour laws.
Some of the drivers who spoke with journalists and craved anonymity said the situation at hand, if not urgently and properly addressed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, may escalate and could pose a very serious threat to the Nigerian economy, which in turn affects the livelihood of a good number of Nigerians.
The tanker drivers listed the following as looming dangers associated with the move by Dangote Refinery: Majority of tanker owners who earn their livelihood will become jobless; Truck drivers, motor boys, wives and children who rely on this occupation will lose their source of income; Truck mechanics, painters, rewire, welders, and tank fabricators will also lose their source of income; Dealers of tyres, batteries, spare parts and all other accessories will lose their businesses which will affect their dependants; Depot representatives, artisans, and food vendors will eventually lose their jobs; Transporters who have invested heavily in this sector through finance homes and banks will go into bankruptcy; As a result of this, millions of jobs will be lost, and this will lead to social insecurity, poverty, and a high rate of unemployment.
