Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to urgently wade into the growing crisis between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and workers in the oil and gas sector.
The controversy erupted after allegations surfaced that the refinery compelled newly recruited drivers to sign agreements prohibiting them from joining existing unions.
In response, the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) announced an indefinite nationwide strike beginning Monday, September 9, 2025, to resist what it described as an attempt to erode workers’ rights.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Falana condemned the refinery’s policy, describing it as a violation of Nigeria’s Constitution, the Trade Union Act, and several international conventions Nigeria has ratified, including the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 87 and No. 98.
He argued that the move contradicts the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Falana stated:
“The Registrar of Trade Unions must immediately call Dangote Petroleum Refinery to order, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should also halt the monopolistic practices of the Dangote Group, which violate the FCCPA of 2018.”
He further warned that no corporation should be permitted to undermine trade unionism in Nigeria, noting that workers fought and won the right to unionize even under British colonial rule.
“With this background, we fully support the strike by NUPENG against Dangote’s policy, which threatens the fundamental rights of Nigerian workers,” Falana added.
#Falana #DangoteRefinery #NUPENG #OilAndGas #WorkersRights #NigeriaNews #BreakingNews
