Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified that employees are not compelled to join any trade union, stressing that membership is voluntary and guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organisation conventions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the company described as “distortions of facts” recent claims by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers over its dealings with staff.
“It is therefore misplaced to attribute responsibility to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the personal choices made by drivers regarding union affiliation,” the firm said.
Rejecting allegations that drivers were made to sign contracts barring them from joining unions, the refinery maintained that the claims were unfounded. It urged NUPENG to settle its internal rift with the Petrol Tanker Drivers unit rather than, in its words, “embroiling the refinery in its conflicts.”
Dangote insisted it had maintained cordial relations with recognised trade unions. “We have consistently supported their legitimate activities within our facility, including providing office space and enabling member engagement and dues collection without interference,” it said.
The company also declared support for mediation efforts by the Ministry of Labour while calling on NUPENG to respect the dialogue process.
“We urge NUPENG to act in good faith, respect the ongoing dialogue process, and refrain from making statements that could undermine national economic recovery efforts led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” the statement added.
Highlighting welfare benefits, Dangote Industries Limited described itself as Nigeria’s largest private-sector employer. It said drivers under its Compressed Natural Gas truck scheme earn three times the national minimum wage and receive group insurance, pensions, medical allowances, housing benefits, and access to loans.
The company said the rollout of 10,000 CNG trucks would create about 60,000 direct jobs and many more indirect ones, while helping cut logistics costs and support the Federal Government’s energy transition plan.
Dangote noted that in the year since the refinery’s commissioning, Nigeria had moved from being Africa’s top importer of refined fuel to a net exporter, reaching even the United States. By-products such as polypropylene, base oils, and jet fuel, the company said, were boosting industries from plastics to agro-processing.
It further disclosed that its operations had eliminated recurring fuel scarcity, stabilised prices, and created more than 570,000 jobs across logistics, construction, and maintenance. Host communities, it added, were benefitting from new infrastructure including roads, power, and water.
On fears of monopoly, the refinery dismissed them. “As for claims of monopoly, we reject these as recycled falsehoods. The greater concern lies in the inaction of those with the means to invest in Nigeria, who instead choose to remain on the sidelines. At Dangote, we have chosen to invest boldly in Nigeria’s future, and we will continue to do so. It is time others follow suit,” the company said.
