Nigeria’s tribe of pseudo-socialists and Marxists, who hardly understand the demands of economics, appear to be behind their trade union ideological kinsmen who are fighting Dangote Refinery, possibly on behalf of petroleum product marketers who feel shut out of the downstream sub-sector of Nigeria’s petroleum industry by Dangote Refinery.
Dangote Refinery bypassed the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and formed the, albeit illegal, Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association for its drivers, who would drive its trucks as it attempts to call off the bluff of the heartless downstream oil cartel.
Dangote bought 4,000 trucks, powered by Compressed Natural Gas, to deliver its products directly to retailers, much the same way Nigerian Bottling Company and Seven-Up Bottling Company deliver their beverages to their retailers.
Maybe, to avoid interference from competitors who import their own petroleum products, Dangote Refinery allegedly required its drivers to sign contracts barring them from joining industry trade unions, which include NUPENG, and formed a trucking association for them.
Expectedly, NUPENG took umbrage and accused Dangote Refinery of “slave like” actions by not only barring the formation of unions among its employees but also compelling them to sign contracts that effectively barred them from joining any other union.
The Federal Government swiftly stepped in and extracted a Memorandum of Understanding that declared: “That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.
“That the process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (September 9–22, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union. (And) arising from the strike notice, no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical will be victimised.”
Sadly, the agreement broke down barely two days after it was brokered. Sayyr Dantata, who is probably a relation of Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote Refinery, was accused by NUPENG of instructing its drivers to remove NUPENG stickers from their trucks or be barred from loading products at the refinery.
NUPENG issued what it called a “red alert” to tell the nation of the development and the possible resumption of its strike without any warning. It also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, civil society organisations and workers in general to rise in solidarity in the event of a resumption of the strike.
Mercifully, the Federal Government and its agents, which included the National Security Adviser, again stepped in to avert what could have been a disaster to the economy of the nation, whose midstream and downstream petroleum sub-sectors are exceedingly fragile.
No sooner than the altercation was put down than another one reared its head. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association accused Dangote of firing 800 of its members and replacing them with expatriates, who will draw higher salaries.
This was denied and explained as redeployment within the Dangote Group, but not before PENGASSAN had disrupted the supply of petroleum and gas feeds to Dangote Refinery. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dangyadi, brokered a meeting that led to the suspension of the strike.
A communiqué, like the MOU signed by Dangote Refinery and NUPENG, was released, and it reads: “Whereas the leadership of PENGASSAN said that the directives given to stop the supply of gas to Dangote Petroleum and withdrawal of services were in response to the termination of over 800 members of PENGASSAN by the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
“(And when) the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical, on the other hand, explained the reason for disengagement of the workers was as a result of the ongoing reorganisation in the company, (and) no worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN, PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling of the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”
The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, says that the strike led to a daily loss of 283,000 barrels, or 16 per cent, of petroleum production, 1.7 billion standard cubic feet, or 30 per cent, of gas production and the inevitable 1,200 megawatts, or 20 per cent, shortfall in electricity production.
Expectedly, he alerted Nigerians, “The financial impact is escalating quickly, with significant revenue losses projected at current deferment levels.” This development, he says, is “driven by missed liftings and gas sales, (and) cashflow pressures are immediate and compounding”.
He added, for good effect, that the disruptions by PENGASSAN posed systemic risks to energy supply and its ripples “extend beyond the Dangote Refinery”. Of course, everyone knows that it is the poor citizens of Nigeria who will absorb the revenue that could have been made available to provide them with more infrastructure and social services.
Nigeria’s former labour leader, Adams Oshiomole, who is now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, waded in on the side of the masses of Nigeria, even if it looked as if he was also on the side of “monopolist” Dangote Refinery.
He submitted, “What I am not sure (of) is (the) ease with which PENGASSAN resorted to escalating the matter… to a point of shutting down the (entire) oil sector,” and concluded, “I think that, to protect a particular set of workers (in Dangote Refinery), you do not risk the job of several other workers (in the larger industry).”
He reasons, “I thought that PENGASSAN should recognise that an employer has to… mature, be strong enough to guarantee good pay and job.” He observes, “When people say Dangote (Refinery) is a monopoly, I am like, would you (or wouldn’t you) prefer a monopoly that creates jobs in Nigeria than an import monopoly?”
He added, “What I know everywhere in the world is that unions support industrial policies that entrench local investment. (After) they have located here (in Nigeria) and they have started producing, we can go and organise their workers.”
Also, he notes, “The problem with the freedom of association is that it also includes freedom to refuse to associate with a particular association… It is something (that is) obligatory… So, the employer has his rights. The employee has his rights. In pursuing one right, you have to recognise that the tools (that) you deploy must… not undermine other people’s jobs, which should also be of concern to the trade unions.”
Senator Oshiomole must be commended for coming out, not to criticise the current players in his labour union consistently, but to point them to the pathway where they will not become unwitting tools in the hands of Nigeria’s opportunistic and disruptive oil sector carpetbaggers.
While carpetbaggers within NNPCL and their collaborators were bleeding Nigeria dry through fuel subsidies, another Nigerian, Aliko Dangote, saw an opportunity and ran with it. Now they want to destabilise him and scuttle the relative peace and stability that Nigerians are enjoying with the supply of petroleum products.
If the Federal Government cannot successfully operate its own refineries, it should please call these carpetbaggers in labour union apparel to order, so that they can let Nigerians breathe.
X@lekansote1, lekansote.com
