Nigeria is bracing for a fresh wave of fuel scarcity as members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) today, Monday, September 8, began a nationwide shutdown of petrol distribution in protest against Dangote Refinery.
The industrial action followed weeks of tension over alleged anti-labour practices by the refinery. NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, said the strike was necessary to stop what he described as attempts to “enslave Nigerian workers.”
According to him, Dangote Refinery has concluded plans to sack over 250,000 tanker drivers affiliated with the union, replacing them with new hires bound by conditions barring membership of NUPENG.
“This protest is in the interest of the country. Our members with Dangote Refinery and MRS are about to be thrown into the streets while new ones are being recruited under a no-union clause. Nigerians must resist any employer or investor with a slavery mentality,” Akporeha declared.
He dismissed claims by pro-Dangote groups that NUPENG members planned to attack the company’s trucks, insisting such allegations were “faceless propaganda sponsored by the refinery.”
The strike has already drawn the attention of the Federal Government, with Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi summoning both parties to a 3pm meeting today in Abuja. NUPENG expressed optimism that the talks could lead to a resolution but stressed that its action was not aimed at crippling the economy.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged restraint. Its president, Abubakar Maigandi, appealed to both parties to resolve their differences amicably, warning marketers against exploiting the crisis through fuel price hikes.
“We are appealing for dialogue in the national interest. This is not the time for anyone to increase petrol prices,” Maigandi said.
Checks in Abuja on Sunday showed most filling stations retained their pump prices between N885 and N910 per litre. However, Empire Filling Station hiked its price to N950 from N899.
The Federal Government had earlier urged NUPENG and the Nigerian Labour Congress to shelve the planned strike, warning of the economic consequences if the dispute escalates.
