The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in nine northern states has started a three-day warning strike.
The association said the industrial action was necessitated by non-payment of their N70 billion bridging claims.
During the strike, the association shuts down services at the depots.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State IPMAN spokesman Abdulkadir Mustapha said the non-payment is causing immeasurable difficulties to their team members: “Therefore, at our meeting in Kano State, we decided to withdraw our services in the depots for three days. “
Mustapha claimed that failure by the government to respond and pay all of its outstanding claims would result in an indefinite strike and the closure of all petrol stations.
He said: “From now on, all lifted products must be settled or paid for within the previously agreed 30-day period.
Otherwise, our services will be suspended indefinitely at all depots and gas stations throughout the northern region.
“Although a few payments were made, accounting for less than five percent of our claims, a larger portion of the claims remained unpaid.
Additionally, no payment has been made in relation to this year’s entitlements and much of 2019/2021 remains unpaid.
“For years we have unsuccessfully pursued the management of Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulator (NMDPRA) over our N70 billion unresolved bridge claims.
“As a peace-loving association, we call on the authorities to settle or pay all outstanding claims. We can’t ship fuel from the far south to the north for free.
Our decision to go on the warning strike is intended to draw the authorities’ attention to taking action on why we didn’t close our branches to avoid creating unnecessary difficulties for the citizenry.”
He called on the federal government to intervene by getting NMDPRA to meet all understanding requirements to avert an indefinite strike that could affect fuel distribution in the northern region.
The nine states with NNPC Limited depots include Borno, Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, Gombe, Niger and Sokoto.
