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PTD Slams NUPENG For Compelling Units To Pay N400k For Seminar, Says Osesua Remains Bona Fide National Chair*
National Chairman, Comrade Lucky Osesua, his deputy, Comrade Dayyabu Garga, and the National Secretary, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, as well as others within the fold of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have criticised the parent body for compelling every unit in the branch to pay N400,000 before participating in educational seminar which held in Ibadan between 17th and 18th of July, 2024.
Osesua, Garga and Obinna while repudiating NUPENG leaders for exhibiting extortionist tendencies by introducing needless educational seminar at a time when the citizens are faced with an austere economy also urged stakeholders in the oil and gas sector including the Federal government of Nigeria to recognize them as the duly-elected executives of PTD.
The trio made these remarks in a jointly signed statement on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
The Tanker Drivers argued that the executives, which emerged at the National Delegates Conference in Abuja on Thursday, July 4, 2024, which is the venue recognized for the Branch’s convention, remained the authentic body.
PTD said the “illegal leadership” that emerged from a Kangaroo election in Lagos was desperate to force stakeholders into accepting it.
The PTD executives further stated that the leadership which the Lagos election purportedly produced on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 could not avail itself legitimacy by serially violating the sanctity of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria [NICN], Bayelsa and Abuja Divisions and other legal methods of conducting national delegates conference.
The oil and gas union again noted that the Lagos election should be nullified, having flagrantly violated the guidelines laid down by the NICN on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, stressing that the leadership legitimacy should be handed to them (Osesua led faction), which followed due process and electoral guidelines in the interest of the impoverished members of the PTD that cut across the four zones in the country.
The statement reads in part: “The vicious circle of extortion which has caused PTD members to be paupers and beggars despite their commitment to hardwork and national socio-economic growth must stop forthwith. Telling every Unit in the PTD Branch to pay N400,000 for a needless educational seminar is not only an act of extortion but a deliberate attempt to enslave our members more and make life miserable for them. Apart from what Gbolahan Adigun did in Lagos Zone at Ibadan to overstretch, manipulate and milk our members financially, Comrade Joseph Okafor is also calling for a zonal meeting at the Zonal Secretariat of the PTD Branch in Enugu on 25th and 26th of July, the same month of the purported Kangaroo Lagos election which is a move to bring additional financial burdens on our members. We therefore kick against this obnoxious move in its entirety and call for restraint.
“Also, for the price we owe posterity, we truly believe in the rule of law in entrenching our legitimacy as duly elected national executives of PTD, therefore we won’t engage in any conduct that is unacceptable before the law. We also strongly rely on the strength of the unbiased position of the Court of competent jurisdiction on this matter, and have no doubt absolutely that justice will never elude us.
“Contrary to the orders laid down by NICN Abuja, our members were intimidated, violated, harassed, disenfranchised and compelled to make choices against their wishes through adoption of option A-4. The process was also discriminatory, not all-inclusive, factions were not reconciled, queries, suspension letters etc were not revoked; the electoral and caretaker committees were not properly constituted as ordered by NICN Abuja. It is obvious that the outcome of Lagos Delegates Conference did not reflect the wishes and support of the majority and this outrightly gave legitimacy to the Abuja Delegates Conference where Lucky Osesua and his team emerged.
“We equally use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government and other industry stakeholders in the Upstream, Mid-stream and downstream of petroleum sector to relate with us as the only legitimate, duly elected and constitutionally recognised executives of the PTD branch of NUPENG. Its a big shame that the national secretariat of NUPENG including the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale now find it difficult to hold a branch election that can be said to be free, fair, transparent and credible.
“We as well found it instructive to state very clearly that what transpired in Lagos was a mere selection which is contrary to PTD bye-law and thankfully the judiciary is there for us to correct this wrong and set the record straight so that the union will not be placed on the verge of precipice, hence there is need for urgent paradigm shift to accentuate and engender industrial peace and harmony.
“For the umpteenth time, PTD must be allowed to breathe such that its members could peacefully and conveniently be proud and better for what they are doing. The slave-master relationship needs to be obliterated in the nick of time. PTD is in dire need of employee-centric leadership that prioritizes the well-being and support of their members, both personally and professionally; leadership that demonstrates empathy, offer resources for work-life balance, and provide support during challenging times, fostering a culture of care, welfarist, resilience, and mutual respect.
“Frankly, Tanker Drivers traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria through distribution and transportation of petroleum products and supply of gas to Nigerians in their homes, offices and factories need to be exposed to better working conditions under a legitimate, compassionate, detribalized, and effective leadership.”
As part of its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and boosting food security across Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed essential food supplies to more than 2,500 beneficiaries across eight communities in Uromi, Irrua, Edo State, under its Fidelity Food Bank initiative.
The intervention, held at the Uromi Town Hall in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state, underscores the bank’s continued efforts to improve the wellbeing of families and strengthen communities through targeted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions.
Speaking at the distribution event, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, said the intervention demonstrated the bank’s commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities where it operates.
“Today’s distribution will provide over 2,500 beneficiaries with essential food supplies. This event goes beyond the distribution of food items; it is about uplifting lives, strengthening communities and supporting families with resources that contribute to their wellbeing and resilience,” Nwagboh said.
He noted that the initiative also contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. He noted the Uromi intervention was designed to reach families across eight communities and provide immediate assistance to those affected by food insecurity.
He also disclosed that Fidelity Bank distributes 10,000 food packs every month through the Fidelity Food Bank programme, working with 19 partners across the country to reach communities where the need is greatest.
The intervention received commendation from the Edo State Government, with Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Jerry Uwangue, praising Fidelity Bank for extending the humanitarian initiative to residents of Uromi.
Uwangue said the intervention demonstrated the important role corporate organisations could play in improving community wellbeing, particularly at a time when families face increasing demands on their resources.
“At a time like this, when family needs come first, this act of kindness demonstrates that corporate organisations have a vital role to play in the wellbeing of our communities,” he said.
“On behalf of our Governor and the good people of Edo, particularly the people of Uromi, I thank Fidelity Bank for this remarkable demonstration of corporate responsibility and generosity. We encourage other corporate organisations to emulate this worthy example by giving back to the people and communities where they operate,” he added.
Beneficiaries of the bank’s gesture also expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank and its partners for the intervention, noting that the food packs would provide meaningful relief and help ease the burden of feeding their families.
Introduced in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank programme is one of the bank’s flagship CSR initiatives aimed at reducing hunger and malnutrition while providing support to communities facing food insecurity. Since its inception, the programme has distributed more than 300,000 food packs to beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Ex- Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Colonel Peter Kolawole Obasa (rtd), has died at the age of 88.
The Obasa family, in a statement announcing his passing, said he “peacefully answered the call to eternal rest” on Sunday.
Obasa was born on January 20, 1938.
The family described his life as one of “honour, service and fulfilment,” saying he left behind a remarkable legacy of “service, sacrifice, discipline, integrity and devotion to his family.”
The statement, titled “With Gratitude to God for a Life Well Spent,” said the family was mourning his departure while giving thanks to God “for the privilege of sharing his life and for the indelible mark he left on all who knew him.”
The deceased is survived by his family, including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family said further details regarding his funeral arrangements would be announced in due course. (This Day)
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has released the timetable for the 2026 promotion examinations for senior police officers seeking advancement from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Superintendent of Police (SP) and other higher ranks.
The commission announced the schedule on its official X handle on Sunday, with the examinations set to hold from Monday, September 28, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
According to the timetable, the first examination, for officers seeking promotion from Superintendent of Police (SP) to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), will take place on Monday, September 28.
Accreditation for the examination is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., while the examination will run from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
The second examination will hold on Tuesday, September 29, for officers seeking promotion from Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to Superintendent of Police (SP).
Accreditation for the DSP-to-SP examination will take place between 8:00 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., followed by the examination from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
The final examination, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, is for officers seeking promotion from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
Accreditation on the final day will begin at 8:00 a.m. and close at 11:45 a.m., while the examination will be conducted from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
The PSC advised all participating officers to adhere strictly to their assigned accreditation and examination times as preparations for the promotion exercise continue.
Fidelity Bank Strengthens Food Security Drive with Distribution of 2,500 Food Packs in Edo
Just in: Former NYSC DG, Col. Obasa, is dead
PSC Fixes Dates for 2026 Police Promotion Exams, Releases Timetable
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