AfriPulse
The Department of State Services, DSS, has summoned the
management of Dangote Refinery and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, amid escalating tension over an
alleged breach of an agreement on workers’ right to belong to the union of
their choice.
The meeting, which is reportedly scheduled for 3:00 pm on
Friday, will also be attended by representatives of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, and other key stakeholders.
Recall that on September 9, the management of Dangote
Refinery and NUPENG signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, at the DSS
Headquarters, Abuja, granting workers the freedom to join any union of their
choice without interference.
The signing was witnessed by officials of the NLC, the Trade
Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, government ministers, and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the signing, NUPENG accused
Dangote Refinery management of violating the pact, an allegation the company
denied.
Earlier on Friday, the union again accused the Dangote Group
of being economical with the truth.
NUPENG President Prince Williams Akporeha and General
Secretary Afolabi Olawale, in a statement they jointly signed, said Dangote
Refinery’s press release of September 11, 2025, misrepresented facts about its
relationship with workers and their freedom to join NUPENG.
“The press statement by Dangote Petroleum Refinery dated
11th September 2025 further confirms the company’s aim to crush our union,
NUPENG, as well as stifle competition, with the ultimate goal of increasing
fuel prices in the long run.
“The attempt to create an illusion of division within our
union is not only malicious but entirely fabricated. If a ‘faction of tanker
drivers’ truly existed, Dangote should have persuaded them to call off the
nationwide strike of Petroleum Tanker Drivers directed by NUPENG, which was
effective, peaceful, and 100 percent successful,” parts of the statement read.
At the time of filing this report, Dangote Group had yet to
respond to the latest allegations.
Its earlier statement maintained that association with any
trade union at its refinery remains strictly voluntary, in line with Nigerian
law and International Labour Organisation, ILO, conventions.
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Source: NigerianEye | Read the Full Story…
