NUPENG threatens renewed strike as Dangote Group allegedly breaches agreement

By Denis Mathew

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned the Federal Government against deploying security forces indiscriminately against its members, as tensions with the Dangote Group deepen.

This warning follows less than 24 hours after the union suspended a nationwide strike, based on what it now describes as a disputed agreement brokered by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement signed by its President, William Okporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG accused the Dangote Group of backtracking on commitments reached at Tuesday’s DSS-mediated meeting. The union said it had placed members on “red alert” in preparation for a possible resumption of industrial action.

At the heart of the dispute are allegations of what the union terms “unfair labour practices.” NUPENG claims that Dangote management ordered truck drivers, who are union members, to remove their stickers. The union further alleges that Sayyu Dantata, a key figure in the company, instructed drivers to forcefully enter the Dangote Refinery after union officials stopped them for violating loading procedures.

According to the union, Dantata subsequently called in naval personnel to disperse the officials. “Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over,” the statement declared, underlining the depth of hostility surrounding the standoff.

NUPENG has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and regional as well as global labour organisations to rally behind its position against what it described as a “capitalist threat.”

The union, while stressing its commitment to patriotism and responsible conduct, affirmed that its solidarity with workers remains resolute.

The truce brokered by the DSS had sought to resolve NUPENG’s grievances and prevent further disruption, yet the latest developments point to a conflict that may be reignited in the coming days.