Barely 48 Hours After Peace Deal, Fresh Crisis Rocks Dangote Refinery As NUPENG Halts Fuel Loading
Barely two days after the Department of State Services brokered peace between the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, a fresh crisis has erupted at the Dangote Refinery, with the union halting fuel loading activities on Thursday.
The dispute, Daily Trust gathered, was triggered by a directive allegedly issued to MRS tanker drivers to remove all NUPENG stickers pasted on their trucks, a move the union described as a breach of the agreement earlier reached in Abuja.
On Tuesday, the secret police had convened a closed-door meeting at its headquarters, where both parties resolved to suspend the nationwide strike.
The meeting, which commenced at about 1:35 pm and ended around 7:15 pm, was attended by three ministers, Finance Minister, Wale Edun; Labour and Employment Minister, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi; and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Director of Logistics at Dangote Group and Managing Director of MRS, led the company’s delegation.
But on Wednesday, reports emerged that the company had directed tanker drivers to strip off the stickers, a decision which angered the union leadership.
An emergency meeting was subsequently summoned, leading to Thursday’s disruption of operations at the refinery.
Confirming the development, NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, said the union could not fold its arms while agreements reached at the highest level of government were being flouted.
He said, “This is to alert the general public and the Federal Government that notwithstanding the resolution signed at the DSS office with three ministers in attendance, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata on Wednesday instructed all his truck drivers who are NUPENG-PTD members to remove union stickers from their trucks.
“Today, Thursday, he again ordered them to drive into the refinery to load, but our officials stopped them because their trucks violated our union’s loading rules. We call on the Federal Government not to allow security agencies funded by taxpayers to be deployed against our members, in defiance of the law of the land.”
Akporeha alleged that Dantata had called on naval officers to intervene, describing the move as an attempt to intimidate union members.
He vowed that the union would resist any effort to undermine its rights.
The labour leader further placed members nationwide on red alert for the possible resumption of the suspended strike, urging the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, civil society groups and international labour organisations to rally behind NUPENG in solidarity.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Dangote Group had yet to officially comment on the fresh dispute.
However, a senior official who did not want to be quoted simply said, “Be on standby. We may release a statement on this development anytime soon.”
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
