The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, has ordered its members to stop loading operations.
This is despite the promise of the Federal Government to pay the sum of N236 billion out of the N348 billion approved by the National Assembly as outstanding subsidy claims on Friday.
The subsidy claim is the reason DAPPMAN had threatened to go on strike.
It said the non-payment of the money owed its members had led to inability to pay the salaries of staff.
The directive to stop loading operations was given by DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, on Sunday.
“The Association took a bold step to stop the financial hemorrhaging of its members by the painful disengagement of its loyal workers after over 3 years of engaging with the Federal Government in the efforts to secure the payment of all subsidy induced debt owed marketers.
“To avoid owing staff without any hope of pay, it is hereby agreed that since all our staff have been disengaged, ALL DAPPMAN Member depot are not in a position to operate hence WILL SHUT DOWN ALL LOADINGS AT MIDNIGHT, Sunday, December 9,” he said.
In its bid to ensure that there will be no fuel scarcity during the yuletide, the Federal Government has said that it will pay the sum of N236 billion to oil marketers on Friday, December 14, 2018.
The payment is part of the N348 billion said to have been approved by the National Assembly as outstanding subsidy claims.
The promise was revealed by the Chief Operating officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Downstream, Mr. Henry Ikem-Obih, while speaking with journalists in Abuja.
His words: “The Debt Management Office (DMO) will by next week, precisely on December 14th, pay oil marketers first part of the subsidy arrears of N236 billion as agreed by both parties.
“We agreed that after the first tranche is paid, the marketers will form committee to work on details of how the next tranche will be paid in 2019 and the last paid in 2020.
“Government is fully committed to pay the first tranche as promised and will be paid through promisory note that will be issued by the DMO.’’
