NUPENG continues strike

By Omodele Adigun

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has stated that it has no plans to end its ongoing strike.

According to NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, who spoke on Arise News Television on Tuesday, the union had no choice but to press on with industrial action after Dangote refinery’s management rejected recognised oil and gas unions and allegedly claimed to have a separate association for its workers.

Recall that the conciliation meeting organised by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, to settle the crisis between the union and the Dangote refinery ended in a deadlock as both parties disagreed on the unionisation of tanker drivers at the refinery.

During the interview, the union president disclosed that the representative of the Dangote refinery, Sayyu Dantata, walked out of the meeting which was held in Abuja on Monday.

He said, “The strike is still on. We started yesterday. As it is, we are still open to dialogue. Discussions are also going on. But the strike is still on. We started the strike yesterday. Now, we have been told that we should slow down on the strike.

“We thought that yesterday’s meeting would just be a one-day affair, and we’d all go back. But what we saw yesterday should tell Nigerians that we are in for a dictator investor, and we must stand up against that. So, the strike continues anyway. But I’m hopeful that a good reason will prevail and the issue will be resolved as quickly as possible.”

According to Akporeha, Dangote’s move to create an alternative drivers’ association was to weaken NUPENG.

Declaring Dangote refinery’s alternative as illegal, the union leader noted that the law only recognises existing unions such as NUPENG, PENGASSAN and others in the oil and gas sector.

“Strikes are part of industrial relations. But under my leadership, it has never been the first option. We are still engaging, but no employer has the right to enslave workers,” he said.

He dismissed allegations that NUPENG was attempting to sabotage the refinery or frustrate local production.

“Everybody wants Dangote to succeed, including NUPENG. But he must play by the rules. Nigeria cannot afford investors who act like dictators or slave drivers,” he said.

Akporeha called on Nigerians to support the union’s stance, describing the struggle as a fight to protect workers’ dignity and secure democratic workplaces.