A senior member of the Petroleum and Tanker Drivers Section (PTDS), one of the branches of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Babalola Bolaji, has attributed the ongoing crisis within the union to undue interference from the parent body.
Bolaji also contends that only a court of valid jurisdiction can resolve the imbroglio within the association.
He further advised the parent body, NUPENG, to refrain from nepotism and allow members of the PTDS to elect their leaders.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Bolaji stated, “I want you to know that NUPENG has more than 40 branches under them. The question is, why cause trouble in PTD? What is their interest in PTD?”
He asserted, “From all indications, resolving the crisis that has bedevilled PTDS will be somewhat difficult. This is because NUPENG personnel have intervened, and they seem unwilling to withdraw until the court intervenes.”
Bolaji advised, “The status quo ante should be maintained, and the court should be allowed to settle the matter. If they genuinely want to resolve it, NUPENG needs to withdraw and allow PTDS members to handle their affairs independently.”
He emphasised, “Given the current situation, an amicable resolution may only be achieved through the judiciary. That is the only viable option. My advice is for them to maintain the status quo.”
The union leader noted, “The lingering crisis has affected PTD because they are not having freedom anymore. You can imagine people coming in and begin to remove people without any offence. ”
“There is no constitutional labour law that says you can remove any worker without any crisis but they’ve interpreted it their own way,” he added.
Bolaji recommended, “The advice I can give them is, if they don’t want this crisis to linger, NUPENG should remove their hand, let them oversee others.”
He also accused the police of showing bias towards one of the conflicting factions in the crisis.
“When the crisis started, police arrested the principal executive of one of the warring parties and took them to a magistrate court for beating some people up,” Bolaji stated.
“They are doing their findings to know who beat them, agreed. However, while they were on bail, police re-arrested them. They invited them that they should come, that they wanted to look at the case but they ended up locking them up,” he explained.
“The other party did not come. They charged them to court again, another court. They took them to Kuje prison again, and they wanted them to remain there until they are bailed,” Bolaji lamented.
He emphasised, “It remains a great injustice that must be addressed. Police failed to investigate the case properly. They just framed them up. All I know is that we need prayers to get justice.”
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