Saturday, September 6, 2025 - The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has announced that its members will embark on a nationwide strike starting Monday, September 8, 2025, over alleged anti-union labour practices linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks by Dangote Refinery.
In a statement signed by its National President, Prince
Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union said the
development violates workers’ rights and undermines existing trade unions in
the oil and gas sector.
NUPENG recalled that on June 14, 2025, Alhaji Aliko Dangote
announced plans to import 4,000 CNG trucks—later raised to 10,000—for
nationwide distribution of petroleum and diesel products. While initially seen
as a welcome investment, the move sparked concerns from stakeholders, including
the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
A meeting held on June 23, 2025, between NUPENG, NARTO, and
Dangote’s representative, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, reportedly revealed that the
trucks would operate under a new arrangement that excluded existing unions
The union further alleged that recruitment of drivers for
the trucks began on August 29, 2025, with applicants required to sign
undertakings not to join unions in the oil and gas industry.
“The recruitment being carried out on the condition of not
joining existing unions is a matter of serious concern to us,” NUPENG said.
“This violates Nigeria’s Constitution, labour laws, and international
conventions on freedom of association.”
The union cited Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution,
which guarantees freedom of association, Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, which
prohibits penalising workers over union membership, and Nigeria’s ratification
of ILO Convention No. 87, which 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 Section 32
of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to prevent restrictive practices in the
petroleum sector.
Having failed to secure a resolution after several
engagements with government agencies and stakeholders, NUPENG said it had no
choice but to proceed with the strike.
“The strike is not to create hardship but to protect
workers’ rights and ensure a fair and competitive downstream petroleum
industry,” the statement read
The union appealed for public understanding and called on
other labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade
Union Congress (TUC), to stand in solidarity. It also revealed that members of
its Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch had been advised to seek alternative
employment or skills training if the dispute persisted.
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