The uneasy peace between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery has collapsed, raising fears of fresh disruptions in fuel supply across the country.
NUPENG said the Dangote Group had gone back on the Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 9, which guaranteed the right of Petroleum Tanker Drivers to unionise. The agreement was reached at a meeting mediated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and hosted at the Department of State Services headquarters in Abuja. Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and security agencies witnessed the signing.
On Thursday, NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, accused Sayyu Aliu Dantata, cousin to Aliko Dangote and operator of the refinery’s trucking business, of breaching the pact within 48 hours.
“Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the union officials. Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over,” Akporeha said.
He also condemned what he called “impunity” by Dantata, warning that security agencies must not be turned into tools against workers. “His wealth cannot make him above the law. Security agents should not allow an individual to ride roughshod even while not observing terms of agreement reached in meetings in which they themselves facilitated,” he added.
The union has now placed members on “red alert” for a possible return to the nationwide strike it suspended earlier this week. It also called on the NLC, TUC, civil society groups, and international labour allies to stand in solidarity.
On Thursday evening, NUPENG’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, claimed Dangote management was preparing towing trucks to remove vehicles deployed by the union to block non-compliant trucks. In reaction, NUPENG reinforced its blockade at the refinery’s gates.
The row began when NUPENG accused the refinery of trying to stop drivers of its 4,000 compressed natural gas trucks from joining unions, saying it violated the 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions. The trucks, delayed by logistics challenges in China, are scheduled to begin operations before year-end.
NUPENG alleged that the refinery’s management and MRS, owned by Dantata, compelled drivers to sign agreements not to join oil and gas unions. The tension led to a strike on September 8 that shut down depots and filling stations nationwide before the government intervened.
Fuel marketers under the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria have urged both sides to respect the peace deal. PETROAN’s President, Billy Gillis-Harry, warned that any attempt to renege on the MoU was “not in good taste.”
“All parties should adhere to the terms and spirit of the MoU signed,” he said.
