Petroleum Workers NUPENG Shuts Depots As Talks On Unionism At Dangote Refinery Drag
Petroleum Workers NUPENG Shuts Depots As Talks On Unionism At Dangote Refinery Drag
The reconciliation session, which lasted several hours, was expected to produce a Memorandum of Understanding to end the standoff but ended without resolution.
Fuel loading operations across petroleum depots were crippled on Monday as the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) protested against the alleged ban on workers’ unionism at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The shutdown followed a marathon meeting in Abuja between Dangote representatives, NUPENG leadership, and federal government officials at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity.
The reconciliation session, which lasted several hours, was expected to produce a Memorandum of Understanding to end the standoff but ended without resolution.
In attendance were national executives of NUPENG, officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), alongside the Executive Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ogbugo Ukoha. Representatives of the Dangote Group and MRS Petroleum also participated.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Labour, Muhammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. Though scheduled for 10am on Monday, proceedings did not commence until after 5pm due to the late arrival of union officials.
According to sources present, the Ministry of Labour attempted to broker peace by reading out the draft resolutions of a Memorandum of Understanding for all parties to adopt and sign.
However, fresh objections raised by representatives of the Dangote Group stalled progress, forcing further deliberations.
As of 10:15pm on Monday, discussions were still ongoing as stakeholders struggled to reach a lasting settlement to the crisis.
It was learnt that petroleum tanker drivers on Monday made good their threat to halt fuel loading in protest against alleged moves by Dangote Refinery to stop drivers of its 4,000 trucks from joining NUPENG.
The strike went ahead despite last-minute appeals from the Nigerian Government.
Across the country, filling stations were closed as NUPENG members enforced the shutdown. The Aradel Refinery in Obele, Port Harcourt, and the Kwale Hydrocarbon facility in Delta State were among those shut down.
NUPENG had announced the action on Friday, accusing Dangote Refinery of plans to ban its drivers from unionising. Confirming government intervention on Sunday, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha said the union would not back down, insisting that “no driver should lift fuel.”
By Monday morning, the directive had been fully enforced nationwide. Petroleum depots in Lagos, Warri, and other cities were grounded, with drivers parking their trucks while NUPENG officials moved around to ensure compliance. “There is 100 per cent compliance across the nation,” Akporeha told reporters.
Union members also accused Dangote and MRS Petroleum of plotting to edge them out by secretly recruiting new drivers to take over their jobs.
At Aiteo, RainOil, Shell+, First Royal, and MAO, Hensmor, One Terminals, Africa Terminals, Integrated Oil and Gas, and other depots in Lagos, the gates were locked as workers stayed away to comply with the strike action. Also, A&E, Matrix, Parker AY Shafa, and other depots in Warri joined the strike.
In Sokoto, NUPENG officials shut down filling stations across the state capital on Monday. Union officials were sighted closing several petrol outlets and halting the movement of petroleum tankers along major routes, including Gusau Road and other key highways linking Sokoto to neighbouring states.
Eyewitnesses reported that the officials placed leaves and barricades at strategic points, disrupting the supply and distribution of fuel within the metropolis. NUPENG representatives said they received an instruction from their national leaders at midnight to enforce the shutdown.
“We are only carrying out orders,” an official said. Some residents expressed shock and frustration over the sudden development. A commercial tricycle operator, Bello Musa, said, “I came out early to work and found that most filling stations are closed. If this continues, transport fares will go up, and it will affect everybody.”
The action triggered fears of fuel scarcity as motorists and commuters worried about potential hikes in transportation fares and broader economic impacts if the shutdown persisted. Though the effect of the strike was not felt by Nigerians on Monday, stakeholders feared that the continuous shutdown of the depots would lead to fuel scarcity.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria declared solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers in the push for the unionisation of tanker drivers and all employees of the Dangote refinery and its allied companies.
In a statement on Monday, the association’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, said, “On behalf of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, we are writing to express our unwavering solidarity with our ally and sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers who are currently being hired at the Dangote refinery.”
PENGASSAN warned it may be forced to take drastic action if the matter remains unresolved. “Should the ongoing situation persist without a resolution, PENGASSAN will be left with no option but to join in shutting down the refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests,” the association threatened.
PENGASSAN accused the refinery’s management of resisting unionisation since its inception despite several diplomatic interventions. “We wish to put on record that Dangote refinery management has been resisting potential members of both PENGASSAN and NUPENG from joining the association since its inception.
“All diplomatic efforts to persuade the company’s management have so far not yielded the desired result. It is with deep concern that PENGASSAN observes the increasing resistance to unionisation at the Dangote refinery, as the continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated going forward,” the statement read in part.
The union said it fully supported NUPENG’s demand for total unionisation across the refinery and its affiliates, saying this was in accordance with the principles set forth by the International Labour Organisation and in line with Nigerian labour laws.
It declared its firm support for NUPENG’s call for the full unionisation of not just petroleum tanker drivers but all employees of the refinery and its allied companies. “The right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for promoting fair labour practices, ensuring safety, and upholding dignity in the workplace,” the statement added.
The union also urged urgent dialogue from all stakeholders to avert disruption. It urged all stakeholders to engage in immediate and constructive dialogue to address the pressing issues.
