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) to an emergency meeting, following rising tensions over alleged violations of an agreement granting workers the right to freely associate with labour unions.
The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Friday and is expected to include representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other key stakeholders in the labour and petroleum sectors.
The move by the DSS comes just days after both parties — Dangote Refinery and NUPENG — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 9 September at the DSS headquarters in Abuja. The agreement, which was witnessed by officials from the NLC, TUC, relevant government ministries, and labour stakeholders, affirmed workers’ rights to freely join any trade union of their choice without coercion or interference.
However, within 24 hours of the agreement, NUPENG accused the refinery’s management of reneging on the terms of the MoU — an allegation the Dangote Group denied.
READ ALSO: NUPENG accuses Dangote Refinery of union-busting, calls free fuel delivery a “greek gift”
In a strongly worded statement issued earlier on Friday, NUPENG President Prince Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale accused Dangote Petroleum Refinery of misrepresenting the facts in its 11 September press release. The union claimed the company was deliberately attempting to “crush” NUPENG, create division within its ranks, and stifle competition — ultimately to manipulate fuel prices in the future.
“The press statement by Dangote Petroleum Refinery… further confirms the company’s aim to crush our union and stifle competition,” the union leaders stated. “The attempt to create an illusion of division within our union is not only malicious but entirely fabricated.”
They further challenged the company to explain why a supposed “faction” of tanker drivers failed to stop the nationwide strike of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), which NUPENG described as “effective, peaceful, and 100 percent successful.”
At the time of this report, the Dangote Group had not responded to the latest accusations. In its earlier statement, the company reiterated that union affiliation for its employees remains voluntary and is protected by Nigerian law and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
The outcome of Friday’s meeting at the DSS headquarters may prove pivotal in resolving the standoff, which has the potential to disrupt petroleum distribution across the country if not addressed swiftly.
