As tensions mount over the strike declared by petroleum tanker drivers under the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the federal government has appealed to the union to reconsider its decision. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, made the appeal at a meeting with NUPENG representatives at the ministry’s headquarters. The strike, scheduled to begin on September 8, stems from a dispute with the Dangote Group over its plan to deploy 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution, a move NUPENG says will displace its members and undermine unionisation.
The union also accused the company of pursuing anti-worker policies aimed at preventing employees from joining unions. The refinery, however, has already begun implementing the plan, sparking widespread tension in the downstream sector.
At the meeting, attended by Dangote Refinery representatives, discussions included the possibility of allowing newly recruited workers to unionise. But as of late Monday, no resolution had been reached, with the meeting still ongoing. Reports indicated that some filling stations across the North and South had already been shut, while panic buying intensified in Lagos and Delta State, where the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) joined the strike action.
Other major oil and gas associations, including PENGASSAN, NOGASA, PETROAN, and NARTO, have thrown their weight behind NUPENG, warning that Dangote’s fuel distribution strategy could trigger job losses across the value chain. PENGASSAN, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, accused the refinery of resisting union membership since inception.
The President of NOGASA, Bennett Korie, directed suppliers of petroleum products to industries, telecoms, hotels, and construction sites to halt supplies by September 9 if talks failed. PETROAN also warned that the deployment of 4,000 trucks would only provide short-term benefits without addressing long-term industry concerns.
Meanwhile, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) called for calm, urging both the government and stakeholders to embrace dialogue to avoid disruptions to the fuel supply chain. It stressed the economic risks of prolonged industrial action and appealed for compromise to protect jobs, investment, and national energy security.
On social media, however, some Nigerians have expressed support for Dangote Refinery’s direct distribution plan, criticising the unions for prioritising their interests over the public. Dr. Tosan Harriman, writing on X, argued that NUPENG has long sought to preserve its influence at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.
Source: https://dailytrust.com/
