The Benue State Government has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to end its three-day warning strike and resume fuel supply across the state.
Speaking on Tuesday in Makurdi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Deborah Aber, said the strike was uncalled for. She noted that dialogue with the union was still ongoing.
Tanker Loss Claim at Heart of Dispute
NUPENG, alongside the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), shut down all filling stations in Benue. The action stems from a demand for over ₦40 million in compensation. The amount covers 45,000 litres of PMS allegedly lost in 2022 due to tanker vandalism in Aliade, Gwer-East LGA.
According to Aber, NUPENG submitted a letter demanding compensation. In response, the government reached out to the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to verify details of the 2022 incident.
“We needed to understand the situation fully,” Aber said. “From all indications, this appeared to be a criminal act, not something the government was involved in.”
Dialogue Ongoing Despite Abrupt Shutdown
The SSG explained that several meetings had already taken place with union representatives. However, she expressed surprise at the sudden strike despite ongoing discussions.
“We woke up to locked stations. This action was unexpected, especially since talks were still active,” she said.
All efforts to reach NUPENG officials for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.