The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on strike beginning from Monday.
The union in a statement jointly signed by its President, Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union explained that the strike has become necessary following alleged anti-labour union policies inimical to the survival and means of livelihoods of its members under its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers Branch, being implemented by the management of Dangote Refinery.
Specifically, the union alleged that drivers recruited to operate Dangote’s 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Trucks would not be allowed to join any trade union.
The union described the development as an affront on the right to freedom
of association, guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and a breach of relevant international labour laws to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The NUPENG recalled several meetings it initiated, jointly with the leadership of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to prevail on the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote to rescind his stance not to allow its drivers to join trade unions.
Part of the statement read: “Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the Union has made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alhaji Sayyu Ali Dantata to follow line of global best practices and decency but all to no avail.
“To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata’s MRS commenced the recruitment of drivers for the imported CNG Trucks on Friday, 29th August 2025.
“The drivers being recruited are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the Oil and Gas Industry.
“NUPENG is seriously concerned and disturbed with the unconscionable business practices of Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits.
“To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and voice amounts to creating filthy wealth.
“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers.
“NUPENG stood in solidarity with the Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning.
“We did so in good faith, in expectation it would create jobs, strengthen local capacity, and benefit the Nigerian people, under a conducive atmosphere for unions to thrive.
“Unfortunately, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has chosen to betray that trust by scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition, and enslave the sector and raise prices, which would ultimately result in an attack on the living standards of the masses of ordinary Nigerians.
“This is not philanthropy, it is economic sabotage!”
While appealing to relevant oil industry regulatory agencies to wade in the unfolding crisis, the Union dropped the hint that it would call on its members to down tools and shun loading of petroleum products, effective from Monday, September 8.
“We call on the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority (the Authority, for short) to invoke its powers under Section 32(u) & (aa) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“Under those two provisions, the Authority is empowered to promote competition and private sector participation in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
“The Authority has responsibility to identify, investigate and prevent abuse of dominant positions and restrictive business practices with regard to midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
“Nigeria is a member of the international community and a State member in the International Labour Organisation”
