Alleged anti-union agenda: PTD opposes NUPENG’s call for strike against Dangote

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have disagreed over plan to call out petroleum tanker drivers out for strike in protest over alleged anti-union stand of Alhaji Aliko Dangote the chairman of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company and his cousin, Sayyu Dantata in the oil and gas sector.

NUPENG had in a statement on Friday accused Dangote plotting to create a monopoly that threatened jobs, unions, and the economic rights of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector by barring its newly employed tanker drivers from being members of the union.

“NUPENG is seriously concerned and disturbed with the unconscionable business practices of Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote who are scared of allowing unions to exist
in their business outfits,” the union said in a joint statement signed by Mr Williams Akporeha, National Executive President, and Mr Aflabi Olawale, Secretary General of the union on Friday in Abuja.

NUPENG based its fears on Dangote’s plan to import 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks for fuel distribution, which it claimed was a scheme to dominate the downstream sector.

Dangote’s plan will enslave workers, crush competition

Worse still, NUPENG added that new drivers recruited under the scheme by Dangote are being forced to sign agreements preventing them from joining existing trade unions.

The union described the move as unconstitutional.

“To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and voice amounts to creating filthy wealth.

“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers, it said.

The Union leaders stated that this practice violated workers’ rights protected under Nigeria’s Constitution and international labour conventions ratified by the country since 1960.

“This is not philanthropy, it is economic sabotage. Dangote’s plan will enslave workers, crush competition, and ultimately raise fuel prices for ordinary Nigerians.

“Therefore, all the members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG wil from Monday, Sept. 8 start looking for alternative employments and skills and sources of livelihoods, ”the union said.

NUPENG urged the Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to intervene, warning that failure to act would encourage “tyrannical, anti-union business practices.”

The union also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and international labour organisations to prepare for mass protests and industrial action in solidarity.

“Workers are no slaves, to resist unions is to resist collective bargaining.

“The working class will not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” it said.

Ignore Strike Notice

However, PTD asked its members to ignore the NUPENG’s strike notice which it described as “insensitive, callous and unacceptable” in a statement issued later on Friday.

PTAD accused NUPENG of failure to explore alternative means of dispute resolution before declaring the strike, which, according to it, is “capable of ruining the socio-economic accomplishments of the country”.

“This is a clarion call to all Petroleum Tanker Drivers across Nigeria to please ignore the strike notice issued by NUPENG leadership. The purported notice suggested that the industrial action will take effect on Monday, September 8, 2025, this is obviously insensitive, callous, and unacceptable,” the statement reads.

“How could NUPENG condescend so low like this that they didn’t even deem it necessary to explore any option of negotiation or stakeholders dialogue before arriving at this?”

PTD also noted that membership of unions is voluntary anywhere in the world.

It also noted that Dangote refinery’s plan to import 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for the direct distribution of fuel to retailers “is in good shape and in best interest of the masses”.

“Negotiations and symbiotic relationships cannot be reached through violence, threats or arrogance, Nigeria is governed under constitutional democracy, these union leaders should note that very carefully,” the PTD said.