Fresh Dispute Erupts Between NUPENG and Dangote Group Despite DSS-Brokered Truce
By Kamal Yalwa | Lagos, Nigeria Barely 48 hours after the Department of State Services (DSS) brokered a truce between the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), a fresh crisis has emerged, Daily Trust has confirmed. The renewed face-off began on Thursday when NUPENG officials halted fuel loading operations at the Dangote Refinery, citing a breach of the peace agreement reached earlier in the week. At the heart of the dispute is an alleged directive issued by Dangote Refinery logistics lead and MRS Managing Director, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, instructing MRS tanker drivers to remove all NUPENG stickers from their trucks—an act the union views as a violation of workers’ rights and prior commitments. Background to the Crisis On Tuesday, the DSS convened a high-level closed-door meeting at its Abuja headquarters following a failed reconciliation attempt on Monday at the Ministry of Labour. That Tuesday meeting, which lasted nearly six hours, included three federal ministers: Wale Edun (Finance), Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi (Labour and Employment), and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Minister of State for Labour and Employment). Following the discussions, NUPENG announced a suspension of its planned nationwide industrial action and allowed operations at the Dangote Refinery to resume. However, union officials say the latest development betrays the terms of that agreement. Union Reacts to Sticker Removal Speaking to Daily Trust, a union leader said the removal of the stickers was carried out less than a day after the truce was reached. “On Wednesday morning, based on the agreement reached at the DSS headquarters, we distributed stickers to our members. But within hours, we received reports that the company had instructed drivers to remove them,” the official said. “By Thursday morning, when we arrived at the refinery, we discovered the stickers had been removed from all trucks. This is a clear violation of what was agreed.” NUPENG President: “It’s Not Yet Uhuru” Confirming the renewed standoff, NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, issued a stern warning to the Dangote Group, accusing Dantata of undermining the peace process and violating workers’ rights. “This is to alert the general public and the Federal Government that despite the resolution signed in the presence of three Ministers and a DSS Deputy Director-General, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata ordered NUPENG members to remove union stickers,” Akporeha said in a statement on Thursday. He alleged that Dantata also attempted to forcefully resume loading operations and called in the Nigerian Navy to intervene, following union officials’ decision to stop non-compliant trucks from accessing the loading bay. “He even flew over the union members in a helicopter while calling in the Navy, ostensibly to crush union officials,” Akporeha added. Union Mobilizes for Possible Strike NUPENG has now placed its members on “red alert” for the possible resumption of the suspended nationwide strike. Akporeha called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society groups, and international labor organizations to stand in solidarity. “We will not allow one man’s wealth to place him above the law. NUPENG remains a patriotic and law-abiding union that will not tolerate disregard for agreements reached under official auspices.” He urged the federal government to ensure that state security apparatus is not misused to suppress union activities or enforce unilateral corporate directives. Dangote Group Yet to Respond As of press time, the Dangote Group had not issued an official statement on the new development. However, a company source who declined to be named told Daily Trust that a response may be released “soon.”