The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is poised to commence a nationwide strike on Monday, September 8, 2025, citing Dangote Refinery’s alleged attempts to reinstate exploitative labor practices akin to slavery. The union’s primary grievance revolves around the refinery’s mandate that drivers employed for its newly imported fleet of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks will be prohibited from joining any union. This directive, according to NUPENG, infringes upon workers’ fundamental right to association and collective bargaining, effectively reducing them to modern-day slaves.
The impending strike stems from Dangote Refinery’s plan to launch direct fuel distribution to retailers using its CNG trucks. NUPENG contends that the refinery, owned by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, is actively undermining organized labor by establishing a company-controlled drivers’ association, the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), as an alternative to NUPENG, the legally recognized union for petroleum tanker drivers. NUPENG denounces the DTCDA as a management-sponsored entity designed to weaken the collective power of drivers and suppress their rights.
Despite opposition from certain stakeholders, including the Petrol Tanker Drivers and the DTCDA itself, NUPENG remains resolute in its decision to strike. The union dismisses the DTCDA as an illegitimate body created by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Aliko Dangote to control the drivers of the imported CNG trucks. NUPENG emphasizes that the DTCDA lacks the legal standing to represent petroleum tanker drivers and asserts its own exclusive authority in this domain.
NUPENG’s accusations against Dangote Refinery paint a stark picture of an attempt to impose a form of modern-day slavery on Nigerian workers. The union argues that by denying drivers the right to unionize, Dangote Refinery is stripping them of their ability to negotiate fair wages, working conditions, and benefits. This, they contend, creates an environment ripe for exploitation and abuse, reminiscent of the dark days of chattel slavery.
NUPENG vehemently condemns this alleged attempt to suppress worker rights and calls on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the striking drivers. The union urges the public to reject exploitative labor practices and support the workers’ struggle for fair treatment and dignity. NUPENG frames the issue as a fundamental human rights concern, emphasizing that the right to association is a cornerstone of a free and just society.
The planned strike by NUPENG represents a significant challenge to Dangote Refinery’s operations and underscores the ongoing tension between labor and capital in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The outcome of this dispute has far-reaching implications for workers’ rights, labor relations, and the future of the energy industry in the country. NUPENG’s strong stance highlights the growing determination of Nigerian workers to resist exploitation and secure their fundamental rights in the face of corporate power. The union’s call for public support underscores the importance of social solidarity in the ongoing fight for economic justice.
