Just two days after the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) suspended its strike, the union has accused Dangote Refinery of violating their agreement.
In a statement signed by President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG warned of a potential return to industrial action due to the alleged breach of agreements made with the refinery, the Federal Government, and truck drivers affiliated with NUPENG-PTD.
“We are placing all our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action,” the statement read, urging support from the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society organizations against what they termed a capitalist threat.
The union claims that during a meeting facilitated by the Department of State Services, attended by Minister of Finance Wale Edun and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress, it was agreed that Dangote Refinery would recognize workers’ rights to unionize.
Despite this agreement, NUPENG reported that truck drivers who are members of NUPENG-PTD were ordered to remove union stickers from their vehicles.
“We call on the Federal Government not to allow security agents to be used against the laws and people of this country,” the union stated.
The meeting that led to the initial agreement was attended by various labor union representatives and Dangote Group officials. Following the agreement, NUPENG had suspended its strike, which was prompted by the refinery’s refusal to acknowledge workers’ union rights.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed at the meeting confirmed that unionization is a right under existing labor laws, and the process was to begin immediately, with a completion deadline set for two weeks.
The MOU also stipulated that no worker would be victimized for participating in the unionization process.
During the strike, NUPENG alleged that Dangote was hiring new drivers under conditions that prohibited union membership, a claim the refinery management denied, labeling it as “cheap blackmail.”
As the largest refinery in Africa, Dangote has significantly impacted petrol prices and raised concerns about its market dominance.
With plans to deploy a fleet of compressed natural gas-powered trucks for petrol distribution facing delays, tensions with existing diesel-powered tanker operators continue to grow.
As the situation evolves, both parties are expected to report back to the Minister of Labour following the conclusion of the unionization process.
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