Fuel marketers in Ekiti State have suspended their strike action following the peace brokered between them and the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, by the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
The two warring parties held a meeting at the Osun State Government House on Sunday and the governor agreed to stop the demolition of filling stations while the fuel marketers also agreed to resumed kiting and selling of petroleum products with immediate effect.
The communique jointly signed by all the parties was read to journalists by General Secretary of Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, Joseph Ogbebor in the presence of Aregbesola, Fayose and union leaders.
The communique read, “An ad hoc committee be constituted to fashion out in clear terms the conditions and guidelines for the establishment and operations of filling stations in Ekiti State.
“The committee comprising representatives of Ekiti State Government and oil and gas stakeholders shall commence work on Wednesday 7th June, 2017.
“In the spirit of reconciliation, Ekiti State Government agreed to pleas for reversal of the revocation of some Certificates of Occupancy of landed properties on which filling stations are built, except the ones on waterways, canals and where there is no justification for such revocation.
“In that same spirit, the government agreed to stop further demolitions pending the outcome of the committee’s report.
“Consequently, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and other related oil and gas unions hereby suspend the industrial action embarked upon by their members, with immediate effect.”
Fayose while speaking with journalists after the meeting commended the black marketers, who had taken over the streets of Ado Ekiti and other towns, saying their services cushioned the effect of the harsh is caused by the strike.
He said they would fizzle out now that the fuel markets had resumed operations, saying there was no victor and no vanquished at the end of it.
Aregbesola said the resolution of the crisis was a confirmation that the people had the capacity to resolve their differences.
He commended the maturity of his Ekiti State counterpart and the fuel marketers for allowing the crisis to be successfully resolved.
