The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has declared its full support for the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the ongoing dispute over workers’ rights and unionisation at the Dangote Refinery, warning of a possible shutdown of operations if the issue remains unresolved.
This follows NUPENG’s declaration of a fuel loading suspension starting today, over allegations that the Dangote Refinery plans to ban newly hired tanker drivers assigned to operate its fleet of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks from joining the union.
In a statement released on Monday, PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, said:
“We are writing to express our unwavering solidarity with our sister union, NUPENG, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers hired at the Dangote Refinery.
Should this situation persist, PENGASSAN will be left with no option but to join in shutting down refinery operations to protect our members’ rights and interests.”
The senior oil workers’ union accused the refinery’s management of a long-standing pattern of resisting worker unionisation, noting that multiple diplomatic interventions have failed.
Context: What’s the Crisis About?
- NUPENG alleges that Dangote Group is enforcing anti-union practices by barring drivers and refinery staff from joining labour unions.
- Dangote has also begun a direct-to-retail fuel distribution scheme using its own fleet of trucks, bypassing existing petroleum marketers.
- Critics say this may create a monopoly in distribution and sideline thousands of workers represented by unions like NUPENG and PENGASSAN.
- The Dangote Group has not issued a public statement as of press time.
PENGASSAN insists that the refinery’s refusal to recognise workers’ right to unionise violates international labour conventions and Nigerian labour laws.
“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 read.
The union called for immediate and constructive dialogue, warning that failure to resolve the matter could have wider industrial implications beyond the Dangote facility.
In a bid to avert an industry-wide crisis, the Minister of Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has summoned all stakeholders to an emergency meeting in Abuja.
The ministry, in an earlier statement, urged NUPENG to shelve its strike plans and promised an expedited resolution process.
Industry analysts warn that prolonged disruption at the Dangote Refinery which has been projected to refine 650,000 barrels per day could severely impact national fuel supply, increase pump prices, and derail the federal government’s energy reform goals.
However, union leaders maintain that corporate efficiency must not come at the cost of worker exploitation.
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