From our Correspondent, Warri
The enhanced welfare of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD); and unity of the branches of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has been assured as a priority.
Comrade Augustine Egbon, newly elected national Chairman of PTD gave the assurance during his opening remarks at a meeting of stakeholders; including members of the informal sector of NUPENG, held at the Warri zonal office of the body on Thursday, 16 November, 2023.
The meeting was to formerly welcome Comrade Egbon after his election as the national Chairman of PTD at the special delegates conference held on October 31, in Ibadan.
Pointing out that NUPENG is the parent body of all the labour Unions in the petroleum sector of the Nigeria economy, Comrade Egbon solicited the support of members in forging unity among its various branches.
He assured; that welfare of members is top on his agenda, being a tanker driver who rose through the ranks in the Union and knowing their challenges; which he has started addressing.
Comrade Egbon while thanking members of PTD branch of NUPENG, Warri zone and other affiliates for supporting him to clinch the national Chairmanship, he assured of purposeful leadership.
"Irrespective of which ever branch of NUPENG you belong we are all one, NUPENG is our parent body. You know that if a man has ten children, he will give different names to those ten children.
"That does not mean they are no longer his children because they are called different names. That is why you have PTD branch of NUPENG, IMB branch of NUPENG and so on. We are ready to tow the footsteps of our father, NUPENG.
"Let me state here that the campaigns before the election has come and campaigns are now over. Some were saying let NUPENG leave PTD alone. Which name do you want to adopt if not NUPENG? Those are campaigns and they stop when the campaigns ended.
"We want to thank you for our election, and introduce the national officers from Warri zone to you all.
"Before now when an OGS member comes to the petrol loading deport; our unit Chairman will see him as a rebel. He will not realise that he is of the same father with the OGS man, with him from PTD. I will not welcome that era!
"If a man from another branch of NUPENG enters your office, welcome him with all your heart, he is your brother, the same family of NUPENG.
"Assist him to get what he is requesting from you if it is possible. If it is not possible for you to assist him get what he wants, explain to him and seek his understanding why you are unable to assist him.
"These are some of the resolutions we took earlier at the leadership meeting. We resolved to work together and work as a unit.
"Not that when there is strike you will see PMW selling petrol at petrol stations and we say NUPENG is on strike and we know that PMW has its leadership among us.
When NUPENG announces strike, all branches are expected to join immediately."
Comrade Egbon disclosed, that members have upward adjustment of allowances at the unit levels in all the petrol loading depots in the country, assuring that their take home from this month end will increase.
"I am a tanker driver and I know your pains and I will address them. We shall continue to increase your take home allowances little by little from time to time," the PTD national Chairman assured.
Also speaking, NUPENG, Warri Zonal Chairman, Comrade Innocent Iyere extolled the virtues of the new national Chairman, saying he is a man of peace who is already putting structures in place for the enhancement of peace in the Union.
"Like the national Chairman said; all of us in NUPENG are one. Now, I am talking because I am in NUPENG and it is its PTD branch that sent me to NUPENG as Zonal chairman.
"We have sixty eight units in NUPENG under Warri Zone including Shell, Chevron and we are all one and I am the one overseeing them and am from PTD branch," Comrade Iyere said.
High point of the meeting was the introduction of other members of the national executive from Warri zone who emerged during the last special delegates congress of PTD branch of NUPENG in Ibadan; and the presentation of a congratulatory card to Comrade Augustine Egbon by members of NUPENG.
Present at the event, were Dangote transporters and other informal sector branches of NUPENG.
They all pledged their support and solidarity for NUPENG and the new leadership of PTD branch.
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