The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of resisting workers’ rights to unionise, sponsoring parallel associations within its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch, and spreading what it called “falsehoods” against the union.
NUPENG, in a statement signed by its National Executive President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, on Friday, alleged that the company’s offer of free nationwide petroleum delivery was nothing more than a “Greek gift” aimed at stifling competition and weakening the union.
The union dismissed a Thursday press release by the Dangote Group as “an epitome of unconscionable capitalist falsehood aimed at hoodwinking Nigerians and crushing NUPENG.”
Dangote Refinery had earlier denied NUPENG’s claims, insisting allegations of banning tanker drivers from joining the union, anti-labour practices, monopolistic tendencies, and plans to raise fuel prices were “entirely unfounded”.
The dispute follows NUPENG’s two-day shutdown of depots earlier in the week over allegations that the refinery barred newly recruited drivers of its 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks from unionising. The strike was suspended on Tuesday after an agreement was brokered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
However, NUPENG on Thursday said Dangote was unwilling to respect the terms of that agreement.
In a statement issued by Dangote Group spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, the company denied undermining workers’ rights or threatening their welfare through the use of CNG trucks, reiterating its “full support for constitutionally protected labour rights” and affirming that employees were free to join any recognised union.
But NUPENG countered that despite signing a Memorandum of Understanding on September 9, which acknowledged the company’s initial resistance to unionisation, the refinery on September 11 ordered drivers to remove NUPENG stickers from trucks and replace them with those of the newly created Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), allegedly formed by management.
“Our members have stoutly resisted this development,” the union said, alleging that the refinery has been attempting to sponsor parallel structures within PTD since 2023 by recruiting individuals who lost previous union elections into the DTCDA.
It also linked some pro-company voices in the media to ongoing criminal cases, warning Nigerians against the refinery’s “Greek gift” of free nationwide fuel delivery.
“It is on record that Dangote Group does not allow unionisation in its cement and sugar plants across Nigeria”, NUPENG added, warning that the same policy was now being extended to refinery workers.
The union urged Nigerians and the international community to resist attempts to deny drivers their right to unionise and warned against harm to its leaders.
“Our solidarity remains constant, for the union makes us strong,” the statement concluded.
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