The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has placed its branches on nationwide alert to mobilise against what it described as the anti-worker agenda of the Dangote Group, pledging support for the proposed strike by the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
However, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a branch of NUPENG, fiercely attacked the union’s national leadership, accusing its executives of mismanaging the union and threatening national economic stability.
Truck drivers under the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) also opposed the strike, describing it as a disservice to the nation.
Meanwhile, the Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) announced plans to shut down operations from Monday in solidarity with NUPENG.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, in a statement, said:
“We call on Dangote Group and entities within the group to cease all anti-union, anti-worker practices. We place the entire Nigerian workers, state councils, and industrial unions in Nigeria on red alert. We demand the immediate unionisation of not just Dangote Refinery but all the other entities within the group.”
In a counter-statement, PTD leaders Chief Blessing Dafinone (Warri) and Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (Port Harcourt) accused NUPENG President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale of corruption, intimidation, and sabotaging the economy.
“This strike threat is insensitive and wicked. A responsible union explores negotiation, not sabotage. NUPENG leaders are economic saboteurs using the union to pursue personal interests,” they said.
They urged the government and security agencies to arrest the union leaders, stressing:
“No union is above the law. NUPENG must not be allowed to destroy peace and progress in the oil sector.”
The tanker drivers praised Dangote and Dantata as “patriotic businessmen modernising the industry and aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
DTCDA President Enoch Kanawa, in another statement, said disrupting petroleum distribution was unconstitutional and exploitative.
IPMAN’s Western Zone Chairman, Chief Oyewole Akanni, confirmed the group’s shutdown decision after a zonal council meeting, citing solidarity with NUPENG over tanker drivers’ job security.
Ezigbo
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