NUPENG suspends 12 members indefinitely over breach of peace

Information from the National Secretariat of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, reveals that the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch has imposed an indefinite suspension on certain members of the union due to their anti-union activities and actions that might lead to a breach of peace in the country.

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A circular sent to union members states that these members expressed their support for the executives led by the current president, Comrade Augustine Egbon. The circular states, “We wish to inform all our members that the President, the Deputy President of NUPENG, the General Secretary, and the National Chairman of PTD are performing their roles effectively.

“However, Lucky Osesua and Dayyabu Garga, who were previously union members, have been arrested for their involvement in activities that almost caused a breach of the peace. They were reported to the police, arrested, and will face prosecution in court, where their fate will be determined.”

The circular further encourages members to disregard any conflicting information from sources other than the recognized structure of PTD, led by the National Chairman, Comrade Augustine Egbon.

The individuals placed on indefinite suspension include Peter Moudebelu, Dayabu Garga, Musa Dennis, Osesua, Walter, Tiamiyu Ojo, Osahon Osamuyi, Humble Obinna, Dele Nwaka, Sylvanus Idanwekhai, Akinlolu Olabisi, and Gambo Ibrahim Tuge.

In the suspension letter, they are accused of conducting an illegal congress to elect new national leaders of the union in defiance of a court order nullifying such actions.

The texts of the letters sent to the suspended members are as follows:

LETTER OF INDEFINITE SUSPENSION FROM THE UNION

The National Secretariat of the Union is in receipt of documentary, audio and video evidences of you and some other individuals illegally organizing and conducting elections for the national offices of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Union in Abuja, in the early hours of Tuesday,3lst October, 2023 in disobedience and in contempt of the judgement of Hon. Justice Bashar A. Alkali of the National lndustrial Court of Nigeria, in the Yenagoa Judicial Division, holden at Yenagoa on Suit No. NICN/YEN/L/2022 that nullified the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG’s election held on 30th June, 2022 in lbadan, Oyo State, dissolved the former executive and mandated the National Secretariat of NUPENG to conduct a fresh elections for the national offices of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of the Union.

Your actions, conducts and utterances were total violations of the Union Constitution and the Bye Laws of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch including the resolutions taken at the Branch Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch on 20th September 2023 in Asaba, Delta State.

It was on the basis of the above that a resolution was taken and adopted at the Special Delegates Conference of the Branch on Tuesday, 3L’t of October,2O23 recommending your expulsion from the Branch and the Union to the National Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

To worsen the matter, on Wednesday, 1’t November 2023, the President of the Union, Comrade Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary of the Union together with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee set up after the dissolution of the former executive by court and six principal officers of the newly elected executive of the Branch were brutally and viciously attacked at the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch office at 50 Moses Majekodunmi Crescent, Utako , Abuja by you and co- conspirators ably assisted by some assailants, thugs and arsonists.

These actions are definitely condemnable and heinous crimes and cannot be condoned in any way by the Union and in any decent Society.

ln the light of the above, you are hereby immediately placed on an indefinite suspension from the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG and from the Union generally pending when the National Executive Council of the Union shall take appropriate actions and measures on the matter.

You are hereby directed to hand over all the Union properties in your possession to the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Chairman of your Zone and by a copy of this letter all relevant Security Agencies, Government lnstitutions and all Stakeholders in the Oil and
Gas lndustry should not transact business or have any official union relationships with this man.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
FOR: NIGERIA UNION OF PETROLEUM AND NATURALGAS WORKERS
BI OLAWALE
General Secretary
P resident – NUPENG
Trustees – NUPENG
State Commissioner of Police – Nigeria Police Force, Kaduna State
State Director of DSS – Department of State Services (DSS), Kaduna State
State Commandant – NSCDC, Kaduna State
President and Executive Secretary – NARTO, Abuja
Chairman/Secretary – Kaduna Zonal Councll of NUPENG
Chairman/Secretary – PTD Branch of NUPENG
Chairma n/Secretary – PTD Kaduna Zone of NUPENG