Olayiwola Matthew
The Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) says it will not join the planned strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), describing the move as “a disservice to Nigerians”.
On Friday, NUPENG said workers will down their tools and start sourcing for alternative employment from September 8.
The union said the decision is in response to Dangote refinery’s alleged prevention of its compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanker drivers from “joining labour unions.”
In a statement issued after its national executive council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Saturday, the association said freedom of association is guaranteed by the 1999 constitution (as amended), and that no organisation should coerce drivers into union membership.
“Any action against the smooth flow of petroleum products in the country is a disservice, flagrant abuse of the power of unionism and should be condemned by all Nigerians,” the statement read.
The DTCDA, which represents drivers of wet and dry cargo across transport companies, including Dangote refinery and MRS, clarified that it is an association and not a union.
They added that their existence is primarily to cater to the welfare of drivers through health cover, insurance, and post-retirement benefits.
“The DTCDA will not interfere with the operation of any organisation, union or association in Nigeria. Drivers should be allowed the freedom of choice on which union or association best serves their interests,” the statement signed by Enoch Kanawa, national president of the association, said.
The group also declared support for the federal government’s deregulation policy in the downstream oil sector and the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
DTCDA added that its members are “poised to play an integral role in the distribution of goods and services across the country”.
The association urged the government to prevent “any organisation from recruiting members by coercion,” insisting that strike actions disrupting the supply of petroleum products amount to an abuse of union power.
The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) had also asked its members to ignore the strike.