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PTD Urged To Challenge NUPENG Over Exclusion, Lack Of Transparency & Accountability In Health Insurance Scheme

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The convener of a pressure group, “Know Your Right”, Comrade Kehinde Adebeshin a.k.a “Baba Ibeji” has criticized the handling of the official renewal ceremony of health insurance scheme for Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) with the management team of Leadway Health Insurance without involving the leadership of the drivers whose the initiative was primarily for.

Adebeshin, a prominent transporter and petroleum dealer in Oyo State described the actions of the parent body of PTD, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) a violation of rights and unprecedented grab of tyrannical power which was brazenly displayed by the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale and the President, Williams Akporeha.

Berating the perceived highhandedness and flagrant abuse of office by NUPENG leadership on Monday, March 10. 2025, the transporter said he was shocked not to have seen the former Chairman of PTD at the event, Otunba Salimon Oladiti who doubles as the Trustee of NUPENG.

He added that the absence of Augustine Egbon, Solomon Kilanko, and even the Chairman of Lagos Zone of PTD, Saheed Gbolahan Adigun was an indication that the leadership of NUPENG was neither upright or transparent with the details of the insurance scheme.

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Adebeshin in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 accused NUPENG of interfering with PTD right to independently run its legitimate duties, to assemble and hold meetings, work freely and to make its own decisions independently without any undue interference from any quarters.

He used the occasion to call on all PTD members across Nigeria to close ranks and come together as one body, and rise up to the occasion and investigate deeply what has transpired between NUPENG and Leadway Health Insurance delegation, led by Dr. Olatokunbo Alli, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gideon Anumba, Head of Operations, and Mr. Nathan Peregrine Akatakpo, Sales Executive which purportedly aimed at providing quality healthcare coverage for petroleum tanker drivers on the wheel across Nigeria.

Adebeshin maintained that PTD should not allow itself to be deceived or extorted by NUPENG, stressing that by allowing such infraction to pass without restraint will put PTD members into perpetual servitude under NUPENG.

Adebeshin’s statement reads in parts:

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“The occasion that marked the official renewal ceremony of the health insurance scheme for Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) on the wheel and the management team of Leadway Health Insurance at the NUPENG National Secretariat in Lagos on Monday, March 10, 2025 without the involvement of PTD national leadership was a clear violation of rights and unprecedented grab of tyrannical power which was brazenly displayed by the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale and the President, Williams Akporeha.

The reintroduction or renewal of an existing health insurance scheme which was originally introduced by the PTD leadership but now being taken over by NUPENG General Secretary and the President without carrying along any PTD leaders and with no recourse to due process was a clear indication of malfeasance primarily designed for improper purposes and corruption.

“The health insurance scheme as presently constituted has been deliberately manipulated by NUPENG, making it so obnoxious for PTD members to key into, due to the regime of multiple taxes, levies and rates being introduced at various depots, refineries and other loading outlets.

“This dubious ploy will definitely deny drivers a new lease of life and access to quality and affordable health care in different parts of the country. Similarly, their automated identity cards which contain their biometrics that will help them to access this service has also been eroded. The same members who are the ones generating the funds at unit levels are also now the victims, this is pitiable and most unfortunate.

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“This is a wake up call to all PTD members in Nigeria to come back as one, this is not about factions, it should be about fighting and demonizing the common enemies. The situation here has also created an opportunity to unanimously combat abuse of power, and this is the right time for members to investigate properly and make informed decisions on why their money would be spent without their consent, at the same time against their wishes. Sadly all these shenanigans are happening at the expense of tanker drivers’ health and well-being. According to elders, you cannot shave someone’s hair without their consent.

“It’s a huge surprise that PTD’s financial resources are now shrouded in secrecy, with altered signatories and a lack of transparency and accountability. It is also appalling to see that the General Secretary of the parent union will be among signatories to PTD’s bank accounts, especially the one for the health insurance scheme and others,” Adebeshin said.

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ECKANKAR Nigeria Hosts the 2025 African ECK Soul Adventure Seminar in Port Harcourt

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

ECKANKAR Nigeria is delighted to announce that it will host the 2025 African ECK Soul Adventure Seminar, a landmark spiritual event, from December 12 to 14, 2025, at the Temple of ECK, Obi Wali Road, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This highly anticipated seminar, themed “Spiritual Tools for Mastering Life’s Challenges,” marks the first major international gathering following the succession of Sri Doug Kunin as the MAHANTA, the Living ECK Master, on October 22, 2025. Over 15,000 participants from across Nigeria, Africa, and the world are expected to attend.

The Guest Speaker at the event will be Armand Mpassy-Nzoumba, the Regional ECK Spiritual Aide (RESA) for Central Africa and Mauritius.

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The seminar will feature a rich lineup of inspiring talks, workshops, music, drama, laughter, and fellowship, offering attendees divine insights and practical tools for personal and spiritual growth.

ECKANKAR—The Path of Spiritual Freedom—is a worldwide spiritual teaching that helps individuals experience the Light and Sound of God, understand dreams, and find inner guidance to lead a more fulfilled life. The spiritual home of ECKANKAR is the Temple of ECK in Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA, while the magnificent Temple of ECK in Port Harcourt stands as a beacon of light for truth seekers in Nigeria.

All who seek to experience love, healing, and spiritual awakening are warmly invited to attend this life-changing event and explore the treasures of Soul.

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Just in: Three PDP governors missing at ongoing convention in Oyo

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Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Sim Fubara (Rivers) are yet to arrive the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) holding at Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Lagos.

They are among high profile members of the party not participating in the convention, which was preceded with conflicting court orders amid the crisis affecting the party.

Source: Nation

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PASAN ready for nationwide strike as 21-day notice expires

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The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has given a final notice to all its chapters nationwide, to embark on an indefinite strike as its 21-day ultimatum to state governors draws to a close.

The imminent industrial action could disrupt legislative activities across all 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The union’s action follows a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Bauchi on October 23, 2025, where members resolved to give State Governments a 21-day deadline—effective October 24—to begin implementing the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) and full financial autonomy for State Legislatures, in line with Section 121(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

An official directive (Ref: PASAN/NS/SGO/01, dated November 12, 2025) confirmed that the ultimatum will expire on Friday, November 15, 2025.

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The National Secretariat expressed dissatisfaction that despite providing “ample window for compliance, reports reaching the national secretariat indicate that most State Governments are yet to begin the implementation as directed.”

In a decisive move toward enforcement, PASAN instructed its zonal leaders to activate full mobilization. In a memo titled “Directive to Mobilize for Industrial Action,” the union ordered all National Vice Presidents to “immediately mobilize all Chapters within their respective zones for industrial action as soon as the ultimatum elapses.

This action is to ensure full enforcement of the NEC resolution and to press home our demand for the implementation of CONLESS without further delay.”

The union also wrote to Rt. Honourable Speakers across the states (Ref: PASAN/NS/ADM/OF/22, dated November 13, 2025), informing them of the ultimatum’s expiration and its readiness to strike. PASAN lamented that “the said ultimatum expired Friday, 14th November, 2025, without any concrete response or positive action from most State Governments.”
While restating its preference for dialogue, PASAN urged its members to remain focused and united.

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“While we continue to pursue our legitimate demands, all members are enjoined to remain resolute, law-abiding, and united in the struggle for justice and improved welfare. In solidarity,” it said. However, it stressed that workers “can no longer continue under unfair and discriminatory treatment,” warning that the persistent neglect of its demands amounts to “institutional disregard for the legislative workforce.”
PASAN added that it has written to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSSLN), alerting them to the looming strike and urging immediate intervention to avert a nationwide shutdown of legislative activities.

The correspondence, jointly signed by Comrade Mohammed Usman, National President, and Comrade Agugbue Ugochi, Acting National Secretary, and dated November 13, 2025, was titled “Notification of Expiration of 21-Day Ultimatum and Readiness for Industrial Action.” It was also copied to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Clerks of State
Assemblies, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and security agencies including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reiterating its call for urgent action, the union stated that “the patience of our members has been overstretched,” and urged the Governors’ Forum to collectively prevail on State Governments to implement CONLESS “in the interest of industrial harmony and the effective functioning of State Legislatures.”
With just hours left before the ultimatum expires, Nigeria’s legislative workforce stands on the edge of a nationwide shutdown. Without swift intervention from the governors, the strike could effectively halt legislative proceedings across the federation.

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