The crisis over workers’ unionisation at the Dangote Refinery escalated on Monday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) declared full solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and threatened to shut down operations at the multi-billion-dollar facility.
NUPENG had last week announced plans to halt fuel loading nationwide following allegations that the Dangote Refinery management and its allied companies barred tanker drivers recruited for its 4,000 trucks from joining existing unions.
In a statement issued on Monday, PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, accused the refinery’s management of consistently resisting unionisation since its inception, despite several diplomatic interventions.
“On behalf of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, we are writing to express our unwavering solidarity with our ally and sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers who are currently being hired at the Dangote Refinery,” Okugbawa said.
PENGASSAN warned that unless the refinery management reversed its stance, the association would join NUPENG in a shutdown that could paralyse operations.
“Should the ongoing situation persist without a resolution, PENGASSAN will be left with no option but to join in shutting down the refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests,” the union threatened.
The senior oil workers’ union argued that the refinery’s alleged anti-union policy contravened Nigerian labour laws and international conventions, including principles set out by the International Labour Organisation.
“The right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for promoting fair labour practices, ensuring safety, and upholding dignity in the workplace,” the statement added.
While NUPENG has maintained that full unionisation must extend beyond tanker drivers to all refinery employees and affiliates, the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) distanced itself from the strike.
ADITOP’s National President, Alhaji Lawan Dan-Zaki, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the association backed Dangote’s new distribution strategy, which deploys Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks for direct delivery of petroleum products.
According to him, the initiative would cut logistics costs, enhance energy efficiency, and provide fresh jobs and skills for millions of Nigerians.
“We, members of ADITOP, hereby inform the general public and the Federal Government that we dissociate ourselves from any intended strike or disruption by NUPENG and its cohorts. We intend to continue moving petroleum products across the country without fear of molestation,” Dan-Zaki said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has summoned a meeting of all stakeholders in Abuja to address the dispute and avert disruption of petroleum supply.
