The Department of State Services (DSS) has summoned the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to an emergency meeting amid escalating tensions over alleged breaches of a labour agreement.
The meeting, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday in Abuja, will also include representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other key stakeholders, Vanguard learnt.
This comes barely three days after Dangote management and NUPENG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the DSS headquarters, granting refinery workers the freedom to join any union of their choice. The agreement was witnessed by labour leaders, government officials, and ministers.
However, less than 24 hours after the pact was signed, NUPENG accused Dangote of violating the terms, an allegation the company denied. On Thursday, the union again accused the refinery of misrepresenting facts about workers’ rights and its relationship with NUPENG.
In a statement jointly signed by NUPENG President Prince Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union claimed that Dangote Petroleum Refinery was attempting to undermine the union, stifle competition, and ultimately control fuel prices.
The union alleged that the refinery had directed the removal of NUPENG stickers from trucks and replaced them with those of the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), a body it claims was created by Dangote management.
According to NUPENG, the move is designed to weaken its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch.
NUPENG further warned Nigerians not to be swayed by what it described as Dangote’s “deceptive” offer of free nationwide fuel delivery, insisting the strategy was meant to monopolise tanker operations and sideline unionised drivers.