IPMAN and NUPENG suspend strike in Oyo and Osun

Members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria Petroleum (IPMAN) and NUPENG in Oyo and Osun states on Monday suspended the indefinite industrial action they had launched over alleged police harassment and extortion.

The decision was contained in a jointly signed statement by the IPMAN Chairman for Oyo, Osun and environs states, Alhaji Mutiu Bukola, the Chairman, NUPENG Tanker Drivers Division, Alhaji Hammed Hamzat, the Chairman, NUPENG Independent Marketers Division, Mr. Surajudeen Adegoke and the Vice Chairman, IPMAN, Alhaji Olalekan Lawal, and presented to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday evening.

They thanked those involved, including the zonal commanders and the police commissioners of Osun and Oyo states, who took up the matter and ensured the release of the driver and the illegally detained truck.

The statement said: “We were able to count on the intervention of stakeholders from PTD, IMB and IPMAN from the Western Zone on the issues we raised and 70 percent of our demands were met.

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“In addition, the Commissioner of Police in Osun State has invited the association to a round table meeting on Monday, July 15, 2024 at 11am to address other issues relating to harassment and extortion.

“We are suspending the strike to allow for dialogue and resolution of the issues of bullying, harassment and extortion that we have raised with respect to the IGP surveillance team of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.

“The suspension was intended to provide time to achieve better understanding and cooperation with the Nigerian police. The outcome of the meeting will be communicated to the press so that it can be disseminated to the public.”

The associations also thanked the Osun State Government, well-meaning stakeholders in the industry including the Zonal Councils of PTD, IMB and IPMAN and their members from the three unions for their cooperation.

It pointed out that the unions did not want an IGP surveillance team on the motorway, but that the team had to fulfil its mandate to ensure that there was no vandalism or stockpiling of petroleum products in the affected areas.

It was recalled that the three unions on Saturday called an indefinite strike demanding the immediate release of a driver and a truck illegally detained by the surveillance team of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Gbongan Police Station, Gbongan, Osun State.