September 5, 2025-Published by Cyril
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has announced plans to commence a nationwide strike starting Monday, September 8, 2025, raising concerns over possible fuel scarcity across the country.
The union, in a statement signed by its National President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said the strike was in response to anti-union labour practices linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks by Dangote Refinery.
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NUPENG recalled that in June 2025, Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced the importation of 4,000 CNG trucks—later raised to 10,000—for petroleum and diesel distribution nationwide. While the move was initially welcomed as an investment in the downstream sector, it soon raised concerns among industry stakeholders, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
At a meeting with Dangote’s representative, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, on June 23, the union said it was informed that the trucks would operate under a new arrangement, excluding existing trade unions.
NUPENG alleged that recruitment of drivers for the trucks began on August 29, 2025, and applicants were reportedly required to sign undertakings not to join existing unions in the oil and gas industry—something the union described as a gross violation of labour rights.
- “The recruitment being carried out on the condition of not joining existing unions is a matter of serious concern to us. This requirement does not align with Nigeria’s Constitution, labour legislation, or international conventions on freedom of association,” the statement read.
The union cited:
- Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of association.
- Section 9(6) of the Labour Act prohibits penalising workers for joining or not joining unions.
- ILO Convention No. 87, ratified by Nigeria, which affirms workers’ right to free association and is binding under Section 254C(2) of the Constitution.
NUPENG also urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to exercise its powers under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to prevent restrictive labour practices in the petroleum sector.
No option but to strike
The union stated that despite repeated attempts to engage government agencies and the companies involved, no satisfactory resolution had been reached.
- “Having exhausted all available avenues of dialogue, we are left with no option but to embark on a nationwide industrial action beginning Monday, September 8, 2025,” NUPENG declared.
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It reassured Nigerians that the strike was not meant to create hardship but to protect workers’ rights and ensure fair competition in the oil and gas sector.
The union also called on other labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to join in solidarity, and advised its Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch members to begin considering alternative employment or skills training if the crisis persists.
NUPENG appealed to the Federal Government to step in and enforce compliance with labour laws. At the time of filing this report, the Dangote Group had yet to respond to the allegations.
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