IPMAN, NUPENG Suspend Strike Over Alleged Police Harassment, Extortion in Oyo, Osun
Members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria Petroleum (IPMAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Oyo and Osun states have suspended their indefinite industrial action, which began due to alleged police harassment and extortion.
This decision was communicated through a statement jointly signed by the IPMAN Chairman for Oyo and Osun States, Alhaji Mutiu Bukola; the Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG, Alhaji Hammed Hamzat; the Chairman of the Independent Marketers branch of NUPENG, Mr. Surajudeen Adegoke; and the IPMAN Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Olalekan Lawal. The statement was made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday evening.
The leaders expressed their gratitude to various stakeholders, including zonal leaders and the Commissioners of Police in Osun and Oyo States, for their intervention, which led to the release of the illegally detained driver and truck.
“We had the intervention of stakeholders from PTD, IMB, and IPMAN from the western zone on the issues we raised and 70 percent of our demands had been granted. And also, the Osun State Commissioner of Police has invited the association for a roundtable meeting on Monday, 15th July 2024, by 11 am to resolve other issues bordering on harassment and extortion,” the statement read.
The unions decided to suspend the strike to allow for dialogue and resolution of the issues of victimization, harassment, and extortion related to the IGP monitoring team of the Nigerian Police Force.
“The suspension was to allow for time to create better understanding and better working with the Nigerian Police Force. The outcome of the meeting will be communicated to the press for onward dissemination to the general public,” the statement added.
The associations also acknowledged the support of the Osun State government and other stakeholders, including the zonal councils of PTD, IMB, and IPMAN, as well as their members from the three unions for their cooperation.
The unions maintained their stance against the presence of the IGP monitoring team on the highways, emphasizing that the team should focus on its mandate of preventing vandalism and bunkering of petroleum products in designated areas.
The industrial action, declared on Saturday, demanded the immediate release of a driver and a truck that were illegally detained by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) monitoring team at the Gbongan Police station in Gbongan, Osun State.
The suspension of the strike is expected to ease tensions and allow for constructive dialogue to address the grievances of the unions and ensure a more cooperative relationship with the Nigerian Police Force.
