Filling stations shut in Ekiti as dealers begin indefinite strike

PETROLEUM products dealers in Ekiti State under the aegis of Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) and the National Union of Petroleum, Energy and Gas Workers (NUPENG), on Monday, closed their shops in indefinitely following disagreement with some policies of the state government.

Following their action, public transportation activities in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, were affected, while black market sellers promptly returned in the town.

NUPENG and PEDAN said they were angry with Governor Ayodele Fayose for allegedly calling them names while speaking about their activities on a live radio and television programme in the state.

Alhaji Suleman Akinbami, who spoke on behalf of the unions, said they closed shop to protest government’s policy on revocation of certificates of occupancy (CofO) earlier granted to members of their associations.

Akinbami, secretary of PEDAN, read a statement by the unions, signed by PEDAN’s chairman, Owoeye Ayodele; secretary, Alhaji Suleman Akinbami and the NUPENG chairman, Jegede Olumide.

They called for the immediate reversal of all the new levies and taxes which they said were imposed on them by the state government.

They claimed that Governor Fayose had, while appearing on a live programme tagged “The Governor Explains”, on Sunday, allegedly labelled petroleum dealers in the state as “extortionists,” who placed premium on profit making at the expense of the well-being of the populace.

They insisted that government could not afford to be punishing his members while also owing them N80 million being supplies made on diesel and petrol to government by members.

Fayose, who said his government would not back down on its policies, said: “We are not owing them anything. My government did not owe them, it was Kayode Fayemi-led administration that owed them.

“Let me just ask, why did they wait till they were owed such huge amount of money? I have nothing to pay them, because I am not owing them.”