The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has suspended its planned shutdown of depots across the country from loading petroleum product effective from 12midnight on Sunday, Dec, 09. The directive was issued by Mr. Olufemi Adewole the DAPPMA Executive secretary in a statement on Monday morning in Lagos made available to newsmen.
Adewole said: “Recalls the association had issued a shut down directive to its members following the continuing indebtedness of the Federal Government to oil marketers.
“However, following the intervention of well meaning Nigerians including the National Assembly as represented by the Senate Committee of Petroleum Downstream and constructive engagement of the Federal Government team by the labour unions most affected by the disengagement of our personnel, namely, PENGASSAN, NUPENG NARTO, PTD,and DAPPMA.
The secretary said, The union has resolved to recall its disengaged personnel for five days to give the Federal Government’s team the opportunity to conclude its process of paying marketers the full outstanding of N800 billion with the first tranche being the amount already approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
According to him, The association has acted in good faith to avoid untoward hardship which could befall Nigerians during this festive period and we hope government would keepto its promise to see those issues are resolved by Friday, Dec., 14, 2018 as promised. “Meanwhile, disengaged personnel would be recalled on Monday, Dec. 10, considering the reactivation time, all depots with fuel stock should be fully active same day.
The secretary said the termination of the dept payment would limit the continuing wastage of public fund as interest accruing on the over N800 billion dept.
The secretary direct, “DAPPMA depots are, therefore, advised to commence loading operations immediately and await further notification in respect of arrears payment,”
DAPPAMA had on Sunday, at about 8:30 p.m. had directed its members to close down all loading operations by midnight, disclosing that oil marketers had disengaged their employees due to their inability to meet financial obligation. He revealed the Association took a bold step to stop the financial haemorrhage of its members by lying-off its loyal workers years after engaging with the government in the efforts to secure the payment of all subsidy induced debt owed marketers.
According to DAPPMA, to avoid giving its staff false hope of pay, it is hereby agreed that, all DAPPMAN member depots will not operate, hence will shut down all loading by midnight DAPPMA said move by government to settle N236 billion out of the outstanding N800 subsidy arrears was not acceptable, leading to Thursday, Dec. 6, meeting in a deadlock.
The association further explained that the decision of government to pay the N236 billion through promissory notes was equally not acceptable by the marketers.
Thus, the Union has given Government a five days grace to redeem its promise or face the anger of the Union.
