NUPENG Threatens To Resume Nationwide Strike Over Dangote Group’s Alleged Breach of Peace Deal
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a stern warning to resume its earlier suspended nationwide strike following what it described as a breach of a crucial agreement.
In a statement obtained by PulseNets on Thursday in Abuja, NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, accused the Dangote Group of violating a peace pact that was meant to safeguard workers’ rights and maintain industrial stability.
The union reported that the truce was brokered by the federal government and signed at the Department of State Services (SSS) headquarters on Tuesday. According to NUPENG, the agreement was aimed at ensuring fairness in operations and preventing disruptions in petroleum product distribution.
Highlighting the alleged violation, the statement revealed,
“On September 10, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata ordered all his truck drivers, long-standing members of our Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch, to strip NUPENG stickers off their trucks.”
It further disclosed, “The following day, September 11, he instructed those same drivers to proceed to the Dangote Refinery for loading activities, even though our officials had restricted them due to repeated breaches of established loading protocols.”
The union told PulseNets,
“We are placing every member nationwide on full alert for a possible resumption of the suspended industrial action.”
Calling for solidarity, NUPENG urged organised labour movements and civil society to push back against what it branded as undue pressure from powerful interests. The union stressed, “We urge all Nigerians to make it clear to Alhaji Sayyu Dantata that no individual is bigger than this country.”
It added, “We vehemently condemn his apparent disregard for Nigeria’s official institutions.”
Also Read: NUPENG vs Dangote: FG’s High-Level Meeting Ends in Deadlock, Strike Bites Harder
NUPENG also warned against any attempt to deploy security operatives to intimidate petroleum workers and called on the federal government to step in without delay to prevent further escalation. It further appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society organisations to close ranks in defense of workers’ rights.
The union concluded that safeguarding employees’ welfare and upholding collective agreements is non-negotiable, reinforcing its readiness to act should the situation persist.
