The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned that a strike could lead to fuel scarcity across the country. The union has instructed its members to stop work and cease loading petroleum products beginning Monday, September 8.
The action follows accusations that Dangote Refinery’s management is engaging in anti‑labour practices, particularly concerning drivers hired for its compressed natural gas (CNG) truck operations. In a joint statement signed by NUPENG President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union criticised the refinery’s refusal to allow drivers to join any trade union. Chairman Aliko Dangote is reported to have said that drivers will be barred from union membership, a stance NUPENG says violates the right to association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and relevant international labour conventions.
NUPENG is calling on the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority to intervene, invoking the Authority’s powers under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to promote competition and prevent the abuse of dominant positions. The union notes that Nigeria has ratified International Labour Organisation Convention No. 87, which protects freedom of association and union membership, and stresses that any attempt to deprive workers of this right is unconstitutional.
The union urges the Federal Government and its agencies to address the issue and reaffirms its readiness to mobilise its forces to defend members’ rights within the framework of the law. A strike and the resulting fuel shortage could have significant repercussions for Nigeria’s economy and its citizens. As the situation unfolds, the response of the government and Dangote Refinery will determine whether the dispute can be resolved without disrupting the nation’s fuel supply. The coming days, with the strike set to begin on September 8, will be crucial for reaching a settlement.
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