The conflict escalated after NUPENG threatened to halt fuel loading nationwide following allegations that the Dangote refinery intended to prevent its newly recruited drivers from joining the union. In a statement released Monday, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN's General Secretary, declared the association's "unwavering solidarity" with NUPENG's efforts to secure the rights of these workers.
PENGASSAN has accused the refinery's management of a long-standing refusal to allow unionization among its workforce, despite numerous attempts at diplomatic intervention. The association stressed that this resistance to workers' rights would "no longer be tolerated." The statement warned of serious repercussions, threatening that PENGASSAN would be "left with no option but to join in shutting down the refinery operations" if the situation remains unresolved. This would be a "last resort" to protect the rights and interests of its members, the statement read.
Both PENGASSAN and NUPENG are advocating for the full unionization of not only the tanker drivers but all employees of the Dangote refinery and its allied companies. They argue that the right to organize and collectively bargain is a fundamental human right, essential for ensuring fair labor practices and workplace safety, in line with both the International Labour Organisation's principles and Nigerian labor laws.
In an effort to avert a major industry disruption, PENGASSAN has urged all stakeholders to engage in "immediate and constructive dialogue." It warned that a failure to respect workers' rights would have consequences far beyond the Dangote facility, impacting the entire petroleum industry.
In response to the crisis, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has summoned all parties to a meeting in Abuja to find a resolution.