By Victor Ahiuma-Younger
The Pure Oil and Gasoline Suppliers Affiliation of Nigeria, NOGASA, has faulted the Affiliation of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, over claims surrounding a dispute between telecom infrastructure agency, IHS Towers, and two member corporations of NOGASA, which led to the suspension of diesel provides to telecom base stations in Lagos, Delta, and Kaduna states.
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NOGASA dismissed ALTON’s claims as unfounded, accusing the telecom operators of being “economical with the reality.”
Recall that ALTON, in an announcement issued Thursday by its Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, alleged: “Now we have acquired credible stories that members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Gasoline Staff, NUPENG, and the Pure Oil and Gasoline Suppliers Affiliation of Nigeria NOGASA, on Tuesday, blocked entry to diesel loading depots in Kaduna, Lagos, and Koko (Delta State), stopping the distribution of diesel to hundreds of telecommunications websites operated by one in all our key members, IHS Towers.
“This motion, reportedly stemming from allegations by IHS of diesel misappropriation in opposition to two member corporations of NOGASA and which is being investigated by the requisite authorities, has resulted in a important menace to the operation of a number of the 16,000 telecommunications websites nationwide, servicing cell community operators.
“These websites not solely energy cell and web providers for hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, but additionally assist important providers corresponding to banking transactions, hospital communications, emergency response techniques, and nationwide safety operations.”
‘Cease blackmail, pay your debt’
Nevertheless, in a counter-statement, NOGASA’s Secretary Basic, Tunde David, rejected the allegations and supplied a unique narrative.
He stated: “To create sustainability in our economic system, we should keep in mind that pacts are binding. This dispute between IHS and NOGASA must be resolved to drive house this level.
“When our corporations render providers to purchasers, we anticipate to be paid as and when due for the economic system to stay wholesome.
“The publication ought to hunt accuracy and be truthful in its presentation of the info surrounding the matter at hand, fairly than the hack job it did on a really essential matter.
“ALTON is categorically unsuitable in claiming that the 2 corporations concerned ‘misappropriated’ diesel shares of IHS.
“It is a complete lie that fails to acknowledge that IHS owes the businesses in query funds for providers already rendered. They’re mischievously elevating a false alarm by linking nationwide safety to what’s strictly a industrial transaction.”
David accused ALTON of blackmail, saying “They’re participating in sheer blackmail as a result of there are different colocation service suppliers within the nation — like American Towers, Pan African Towers, and others — who may present intervention mechanisms. They simply must clear their money owed.
“What NOGASA is definitely making an attempt to do is defend the companies of her members as a way to safe the roles and livelihoods of their staff.
“As employers of labour, the principal goal of our affiliation is to guard our companies — to not sabotage the economic system of Nigeria.
“Certainly, it’s IHS’ imperial rascality and insensitivity in failing to settle our fees that’s liable for our motion. They don’t anticipate us to sit down idly by once they have our funds tied down.
“We’re solely asserting our rights to be paid after rendering required providers. ALTON should conduct thorough truth checks earlier than making wild claims.
“The quite a few fees by victims of IHS present that the corporate’s administration doesn’t appear to care a lot about its repute lately. It has grow to be a deliberate routine defaulter.”
David emphasised that international administration practices should align with native legal guidelines and ethics:
“As proponents of worldwide finest practices, members of NOGASA perceive and settle for the enter of international managers, however we must not ever be cowed by their presumptuousness. We’re not fooled, and no quantity of intimidation could make us abandon our rights to interact in collective bargaining in opposition to behemoths militating in opposition to the survival of our companies.”
He concluded with a agency stance that “For NOGASA on this matter, sufficient is sufficient. We insist that justice have to be completed. Pay us our requisite charges so we are able to return to regular enterprise. That is our plight.
“Let it’s recognized that that is fully a NOGASA affair. NUPENG is just conscious and anxious with the protection of their members. In addition to, it’s pertinent to notice that our employees are additionally members of NUPENG.”
The publish ‘Stop blackmail, pay your debts,’ gas suppliers counter telecom operators appeared first on Vanguard News.
