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.
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:
“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.
“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.
