The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has given a 24-hour ultimatum to oil marketers to revert to the official rate of N148.77 to avoid sanction.
NUPENG’s President, Mr Williams Akporeha, gave the warning in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.
“We are giving these marketers 24 hours, with effect from midnight of Feb.27, to revert to official rate of N148.77 or we shall name and shame them as public enemies aside from other sanctions,” Akporeha said.
He said it was regrettable that some unidentified oil marketers were exploiting Nigerians by selling Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) from the depots at prices far above the official rate.
“Our attention and empathy have been drawn to the harrowing experiences and pains of the general public due to the exploitative and unscrupulous activities and tendencies of petroleum products marketers.
“These marketers are taking advantage of the seeming gaps and teething challenges in the implementation of Petroleum Industry Act to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
“It is an undeniable fact that PMS is still under subsidy regime, and we find it worrisome that these marketers are selling PMS from the depots at prices far above the official rate,” he said..
The union leader called for some measures to checks and control the prices of Automotive Gas Oil Turbine Kerosene and Dual Purpose Kerosene in spite of being deregulated.
According to him, if this is not done, the entire productive activities will be grounded.
He directed union officials in all the zones to start compiling lists of petrol stations in the habit of hoarding products during the day and selling at nights at exorbitant rates for possible sanctions.
“These also includes; petroleum products depots that may want to be hoarding products because of our decision on this matter.
“The union cannot continue to watch as some cabals keep on exploiting the people and the nation,’” he stressed.
Akporeha urged the general public to bear with the union in whatever actions it deemed necessary against the exploiters.
