NUPENG, PTD reiterate commitment to improved welfare of tanker drivers

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in conjunction with its subsidiary, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) has reiterated its commitment to improved welfare packages for tanker drivers in an attempt to curb incessant tanker accidents and ensure safety of lives on Nigerian roads.

The National Chairman of PTD Branch of the NUPENG, Comrade Salmon Akanni Oladiti, said that there is a move on the part of the union to review various salaries and allowances as morale boosters for tanker drivers.

Speaking at the National Safety Training Programme for All Tanker Drivers on Steering in Lagos, Oladiti lamented the rate of tanker accidents in the country. He stated that “whenever i heard that there is a tanker accident, people are roasted, explosion here and there, i find it extremely difficult to sleep. Hence, I called my people and discuss with them that this training is a task that must be done. This has propelled our intent to train tanker drivers across the country.

“Comrades, I want you to believe that this is your own profession. We the leaders are not sleeping. We know that a lot of things have to be done especially your salaries and allowances and i can assure you that it is now on course.

“Two weeks ago at Aso Villa, we asked for the review of tannker drivers’ salaries and allowances. National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) said that they don’t have any money because the operational cost of their asset is very high this time around. I had to let the government know that the reason why NARTO don’t want to load is that the operational cost is extremely high especially diesel, spare parts and tyre and that government should increase freight rate by N1.50.

“We are seriously working on it. But by the time this freight rate is approved,  I can assure you that the lives of tanker drivers will be greatly changed”.

He urged the trained tanker drivers to brace up and make determination their watchword saying “In life, you can become anything you want with determination. If you determine within yourself that you want to be at the top of your career, it is extremely possible and it should be borne in mind that tanker driving is a career and efforts should be geared towards achieving the maximum success”.

“What I am trying to say is that i only have a primary school certificate but since then, i have been trying to train myself. Despite the fact that i am a tanker driver,  my aim and objective is to become the very best Professor in Education in this country, but i regret not where i find myself today being a tanker driver. But if i were a stark illiterate,  i doubt if you would have voted me as your National Chairman”.

“It is extremely important for all the participants of the programme to be abreast of the information because we continue to learn in life and such learning will persist until we leave this world for another world,” he said.

The union had invited notable resource people, including Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Lagos State Fire Service Brigade, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and some medical personnel to explain to them why they must obey traffic rules and regulations and take their health very seriously.

Comrade Oladiti however emphasized that the oil marketing companies, who are the employers of the tanker drivers, are duty bound to provide training on regular basis for their drivers, “but we cannot rely on them and the reason we took it upon ourselves to train our members adequately.”

Oladiti said 1,500 tanker were trained in Lagos zone alone while 1,000 drivers each would be trained in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri zone making 4,500 altogether.

One of the resource persons, Lagos Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Tajudeen Adigun, urged NUPENG and PTD members to desist from lifting or buying stolen petroleum products and admonished them to report any suspect to the NSCDC.

“Don’t carry stolen petroleum products, if you suspect anyone of your colleagues, report him or her to us and ensure sanity on our roads,” he said.

Dr Taiwo Adekambi, a medical practitioner, advised tanker drivers to always check their blood pressure, hearing and vision from time to time. He also urged them to abstain from taking unprescribed medicines nor drink while driving.