Worried about the economic implications on citizens, a group, Forum for Good Governance in Nigeria has asked the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to shelve its planned strike action.
The Road Transport Owners had on Thursday, threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over what they described as high operational costs engineered by rising inflation rates in the country.
The umbrella body of all commercial transport owners and operators in Nigeria claimed all efforts made to secure negotiations for appropriate and commensurate Freight rates for operations proved abortive.
The Forum for Good Governance in Nigeria which made the appeal in a press statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator and Secretary Comrade Abraham Douglas and Comrade Bala Galadima Ikara said,” At this critical period of economic hardship, strike action will be adding more to excruciating pains caused the removal of fuel subsidy .
The Forum also said the strike will grossly affect supply of petroleum products; create unnecessary discomfort and chaos.
While calling on the Federal government to immediately meet with the union to suspend the strike, the Forum called on NARTO to consider the option of dialogue as the best option to resolve its problems stated its letter.
The statement further reads: “Though NARTO has the right to fight for its members as a pressure group,
the idea of writing a letter to direct all members not to make their Petroleum Trucks available for Petroleum Products loading activities from Monday, 19th day of February 2024 is more less counter productive, considering this critical period of rising inflation.
“Against this background, we are appealing to the union members to suspend the strike and work out modalities to reach an amicable dispute resolution with Federal Government.
“We fully support a collective efforts for continued sustainability of the Petroleum Haulage business and effective service delivery .
“We quite agree with the union that there is definitely no way it can continue in business within the context of the current economic situation in the Country, but we insist on a meeting to avoid impending economic crisis”, the statement concludes.