By Muyiwa Lucas and Augustine Okezie, Katsina
Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have raised the alarm over alleged plans by some groups to divert N621 billion the Federal Government earmarked for the repairs of 21 critical roads nationwide.
The leadership of the union threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the government fails to sanction those behind the act.
A jointly statement by its President and General Secretary, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, said the leadership of the union was disturbed by the statements credited to the National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers on February 8, 2022 and the President of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) on Thursday, February 10, 2021.
The union said it understood the unfortunate situation that transporters have found themselves, but that as a responsible and responsive trade union organisation, it would not fold its arms while its members died on the highways and millions of naira lost in accidents.
“…You will all recall that at the end of the quarterly Branch Executive Council meeting of the petroleum tanker drivers, held at PTD House, Emene, Enugu, on September 25, 2021, the union issued a firm and decisive ultimatum on the deplorable state of the Federal highways and the painful experiences of our members while carrying out their duties across the country.
“The management team of the NNPC, under Mallam Mele Kyari, immediately arrested the situation then to avert an industrial action by calling the leadership of the union to two separate meetings on October 10, 2021 in Ibadan and on October 12, 2021 in Abuja.
“In attendance at the October 12 meeting were critical stakeholders, like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and NUPENG.
“These two meetings resulted in the signing of a communiqué indicating the readiness and willingness of the NNPC to finance the rehabilitation of identified 21 critical roads at an estimated sum of N621 billion through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
“On the basis of this communiqué, the union suspended the intended industrial action, but we were very clear in our statement that should the spirit and letter of the agreement not be fully implemented with focus on those jointly identified critical roads or if any attempt is made to divert the funds, the union would not give further warning before it resumes the intended actions.
Also, long queues of motorists have resurfaced in Katsina in the past one week.
Only few petrol stations now sell fuel to long queues of motorists who struggle to purchase the commodity.
When our correspondent went round the capital town, only a few filling stations were seen discharging fuel to crowded motorists while there was no presence of security agencies or agencies of government present to checkmate the situation
“Unfortunately, our worst fear concerning the struggle is gradually unfolding with information coming out from reliable sources that some elements in the garbs of being state governments, officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing and desperate politicians are already dipping their soiled hands into these funds and diverting them to roads already budgeted for and done since last year,” it added.
NUPENG alleged that officials of Ministry of Works and Housing were going showing pictures of roads done last June and August to justify the payment made from the N621 billion which was approved in October 2021 for the identified 21 critical roads.
“We have our facts and figures, and we shall not be cowed into allowing the N621 billion to go the same way others budgeted funds have gone,” the union said.
It demanded immediate halt to further release of the fund until a competent monitoring and validation team, comprising all those stakeholders that signed the communiqué, is formed.
Also, long queues of motorists have resurfaced in Katsina in the past one week.
Only few petrol stations now sell fuel to long queues of motorists who struggle to purchase the commodity.
When our correspondent went round the capital town, only a few filling stations were seen discharging fuel to crowded motorists while there was no presence of security agencies or agencies of government present to checkmate the situation
Also, the cost of transportations and movement of goods and services have skyrocketed in the state due to fuel scarcity and the ongoing construction of flyover in Kofar Kaura roundabout as well as the impending one at Kofar Guga roundabout.
The two major road projects, which are expected to be completed early next year, are currently slow and may drag longer than expected.