The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria PETROAN and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the escalating conflict between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers NUPENG and Dangote Refinery, in order to avert a nationwide strike scheduled for Monday, September 8.
The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has also weighed in, accusing Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices and calling for swift resolution.
NUPENG announced on Friday that it will embark on industrial action over the Dangote Refinery’s plan to deploy 4,000 compressed natural gas CNG trucks for direct fuel distribution. According to the union, Dangote’s management insists that drivers of the new trucks will not be allowed to join any trade union, a position NUPENG describes as a violation of workers’ rights under the 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions.
In a joint statement, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale said the decision threatens the livelihood of members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers. Fuel marketers have expressed concern over the potential impact of the strike on fuel distribution and the economy. Both PETROAN and IPMAN urged President Tinubu to step in immediately to facilitate dialogue and prevent a nationwide fuel crisis.
