…NLC urges Tinubu to step in
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has been thrown into turmoil, as a bitter labour dispute pits the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against both the Ɗangote Group and its own Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch, raising fears of nationwide fuel scarcity.
NUPENG insists it will shut down petroleum product lifting across the country as from today Monday, in protest against what it calls Ɗangote Refinery’s “anti-union practices, monopolistic agenda and indecent industrial relations”.
Its leaders accuse the Ɗangote Group of denying drivers of its imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks the right to unionise, warning that workers “are not slaves”, and vowing that solidarity action across labour unions is “not negotiable”.
But the crisis took a dramatic twist yesterday, as the PTD – considered NUPENG’s most powerful branch – rejected the strike call and demanded the arrest of the union’s President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.
In a joint statement, tanker driver leaders from Warri and Port-Harcourt branches described the proposed strike as “reckless, selfish and destabilising”, accusing NUPENG’s top executives of corruption, intimidation and mismanaging members’ welfare. They hailed Ɗangote and Sayyu Ɗantata’s plan to roll out 4,000 CNG-powered trucks as a progressive step to modernise fuel distribution and align with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
“This strike threat is insensitive and wicked. A responsible union explores negotiation, not sabotage,” the PTD declared, urging government and security agencies to clamp down on “economic saboteurs”.
The tanker drivers further alleged that billions collected in union dues have not improved members’ conditions, with many drivers earning less than ₦50,000 monthly.
The clash has left the downstream sector on edge. If NUPENG proceeds with its strike, product lifting from depots nationwide could be grounded, sparking fuel scarcity and fresh economic hardship.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately to prevent a crippling strike planned to commence today by NUPENG.
With the NLC threatening to mobilise solidarity action, and tanker drivers vowing to resist, all eyes are now on the Presidency to break the deadlock.
