Threats of a possible fuel shortage due to the strike by the National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union could be averted by the end of Friday, May 24, as the Association of Oil Marketing Companies and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) are set to hold a crucial meeting with the striking drivers today, May 23.
The ongoing nationwide sit-down strike by members of the union, in demand for better conditions of service, has entered its third day, with fears that the strike action could leave consumers of petroleum products stranded.
Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Dr. Riverson Oppong, told Citi News in a telephone conversation that the strike will be called off after today’s meeting.
He said he had sent letters to the union calling for a meeting which was agreed upon.
“As of Tuesday, I had letters sent to the Tanker Owners Union for engagement and I had a response to meet on Thursday so it is as if we knew that this strike was going to happen.
“So, we are having a meeting with the Tanker Owners Union, and then we are going to have a meeting with the tanker drivers themselves, the National Petroleum Authority, and then the various stakeholders to address the non-payment and remuneration of salaries to the drivers.
“As a matter of fact, we hope to reach a consensus on the table and hope they [the drivers] will go back to work on Friday.”
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