The industrial action declared by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Monday, has entered day-two after the Federal Government’s meeting with the union ended in deadlock.
NUPENG President, Prince Williams Akporeha, said after the meeting that the strike would continue until resolutions are reached on the issue.
The Union declared the strike over what it described as the monopolistic and anti-competition practices being advanced by the Dangote Group in the downstream oil and gas sector.
It alleged that the Dangote Group and its affiliate companies were recruiting drivers under the condition that they must not belong to NUPENG or any union in the Oil and Gas industry, which is in violation of the Nigerian Constitution and Labour Laws ratified by the country.
Although the full details of deliberations at the meeting were not disclosed, the NUPENG President, while speaking on Arise television today, said the representatives of the Dangote group came to the meeting uninvited and were asked to leave because they were not recognized by the law.
“One major role of trade unions across the world is to ensure fairness, equity and job security for workers in their various workplaces. What Dangote has shown over time is that he is not prepared to have workers that would have the same in his employment.
“His team that you talked about were asked to leave the meeting yesterday because they are not known to law. The Minister asked them to leave the meeting. They even came to the meeting uninvited. They were told that they were not in any lawful position to organize workers in the oil and gas industry,” he said.
On why the NUPENG chose the option of industrial action, over legal action, the President said the time is not ripe for legal action, explaining that dialogue is one of industrial approaches to achieve harmony.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Global Union has called on Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil Nigeria to respect workers’ rights.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Atle Hoie, the global union which has 550 affiliates in 130 countries, including Nigeria, expressed grave concern regarding the reported practices of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals and MRS Oil Nigeria Pic with respect to workers’ rights.
While pledging its full solidarity with the NUPENG and its affiliates in Nigeria in their strike action and efforts to safeguard collective bargaining and protect workers’ livelihoods, the union stated that it was imperative that Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil Nigeria Plc adhere to the fundamental rights of workers to freedom of association and to join a union of their choice, as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria, the national Labour Act, and international labour standards, notably the International Labour Organization (ILO)‘s Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise.
“We are deeply troubled by reports that Dangote Refinery intends to establish a company-controlled union for tanker drivers, prohibiting them from joining existing independent unions. This approach undermines the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining, constituting a serious violation of workers’ rights that must be promptly rectified. We strongly urge Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil Nigeria Plc to reconsider their anti-union position and engage in constructive dialogue with NUPENG and other relevant trade unions to resolve this matter in accordance with national and international labour standards,” it said.
