The industrial dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and Dangote Refinery has intensified, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria throwing its weight behind NUPENG.
The union has warned that it may join efforts to halt refinery operations if management continues to block workers from unionising.
In a firm statement, PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, expressed “unwavering solidarity” with NUPENG, condemning Dangote Refinery’s stance as a violation of both Nigerian labour laws and international conventions.
Okugbawa said, “On behalf of PENGASSAN, we stand in full support of our sister union, NUPENG, in their ongoing fight to secure the rights of tanker drivers currently employed at Dangote Refinery. Since its inception, management has actively resisted the unionisation of potential members from both PENGASSAN and NUPENG. All attempts at diplomatic engagement have so far failed.”
The statement underscored growing frustration with the company’s resistance to unionisation and warned of potential action if the situation remains unresolved.
“We strongly back NUPENG’s call for full unionisation of not just tanker drivers, but all employees across the refinery and its affiliated companies. Workers’ right to organise is a fundamental human right, critical to fair labour practices, workplace safety, and dignity,” the union stated.
Okugbawa added that should management refuse to alter its position, PENGASSAN may have no choice but to join NUPENG in shutting down refinery operations to safeguard members’ rights.
The union also appealed to the Federal Government and other stakeholders to step in and mediate a solution, emphasizing that failure to respect workers’ rights could have far-reaching consequences for the oil and gas sector.
“In unity, we champion the rights of all refinery workers and stand with NUPENG in this crucial endeavour. Together, we seek to ensure a fair and just labour environment at Dangote Refinery,” the statement stated.