The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has confirmed it will proceed with its planned strike action on Monday, September 8, 2025.
The union has accused the management of Dangote Refinery of attempting to bring back slavery into Nigeria’s workforce.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olufemi, the union said its dispute stems from Dangote’s plan to use new compressed natural gas powered trucks for fuel distribution.
The union lamented that the refinery’s owner, Aliko Dangote, had insisted that new drivers for these trucks would not be allowed to join any union.
This decision comes despite objections from stakeholders, including the Petrol Tanker Drivers and a group called the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association, who had kicked against the planned industrial action.
NUPENG dismissed the DTCDA, describing it as a “management-inspired group” created to weaken the ranks of petroleum tanker drivers. The union stated that “the DTCDA is the association which the Dangote Group of Companies has formed for the drivers to join compulsorily rather than allowing drivers to join NUPENG.”
Condemning the situation, the union said it was an attempt to impose “modern slavery” on Nigerian workers by restricting their right to free association. “Slavery ended centuries ago, but some unscrupulous capitalists are making efforts to bring it back. Any worker who cannot exercise the right of association is no better than a slave. Ordinary Nigerians should neither encourage nor support slavish working conditions,” the union warned.
NUPENG reiterated that it remains united and committed to defending the rights of its members.
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