The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Gasoline Staff (NUPENG) has accused Sayyu Aliu Dantata of violating a decision reached with authorities officers on staff’ proper to unionisation, barely 48 hours after the union suspended its strike.
NUPENG, in a press release collectively signed by its President, Williams Akhoreha, and Normal Secretary Afolabi Olawale, on Thursday alleged that Mr Dantata instructed truck drivers who’re union members to take away union stickers from their automobiles and later ordered them to forcefully enter the Dangote Refinery, regardless of violating union loading guidelines.
NUPENG claimed that Mr Dantata flew over the scene in a helicopter and referred to as within the Navy to intervene, allegedly to crush union officers.
On Tuesday, NUPENG suspended its strike following an settlement with the administration of Dangote Refinery to recognise staff’ rights to unionise.
The decision adopted a gathering convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Monday, which resulted in a impasse.
In keeping with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on the assembly, each events agreed that unionisation is a proper beneath extant labour legal guidelines, and workers of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals who want to unionise can be allowed to take action. The MoU added that the method of unionisation would start instantly and be accomplished inside two weeks.
In its assertion on Thursday, NUPENG stated it condemned Dantata’s actions in direction of official establishments and the legal guidelines of Nigeria, including that it has positioned its members on purple alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial motion.
“That is to alert most of the people and the federal government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that however the decision reached and signed on the workplace of the DSS with three ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Deputy Director Normal of the DSS in attendance on the fitting of unionisation of the Staff, Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata on Wednesday, tenth September, 2025 instructed all his Truck Drivers who’re NUPENG-PTD members for a number of years to take away the union stickers from their vans yesterday.
“As we speak, Thursday, eleventh September, 2025, he instructed them to forcefully drive into Dangote Refinery to load and union officers stopped them from getting into the Refinery to load as a result of their vans violated union loading guidelines and laws.
Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them a number of occasions together with his helicopter after which referred to as the Navy of the Federal Republic to come back over ostensibly to crush the Union officers. Our members are ready for him and his brokers to run them over.
“We name on everybody to let Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata know that he’s not greater than the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we strongly condemn his boastful angle in direction of official establishments of this nice nation and blatant lack of respect for the legal guidelines of this nation. We name on the federal authorities to not enable the Navy and different safety brokers being paid by the sources of this nation for use with impunity towards the legal guidelines and folks of this nation,” the assertion stated.
It stated safety brokers shouldn’t enable a person to experience roughshod with impunity even whereas not observing phrases of settlement reached in conferences by which safety brokers facilitated together with ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We’re, by this assertion, putting all our members on purple alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial motion and calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Commerce Union Congress (TUC), all regional and world working individuals and civil society organisations to rise in help and solidarity towards this menace of the capitalist world.
“His wealth can not make him be above the legislation. We guarantee the individuals and the federal government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that NUPENG will proceed to stay a patriotic, accountable and responsive organisation to this nice nation,” it stated.
When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, the corporate’s Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, didn’t reply his cellphone neither did he reply to textual content messages looking for remark.
Final Friday, NUPENG accused Aliko Dangote and Sayyu Aliu Dantata of participating in alleged anti-union practices.
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The union claims the businessmen try to monopolise Nigeria’s downstream oil and gasoline distribution whereas suppressing staff’ rights.
On the time, NUPENG stated its members would begin a nationwide strike from Monday, 8 September in protest towards what it described as anti-union labour practices, linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Pure Gasoline (CNG) vans by the Dangote Refinery, for direct distribution of petroleum merchandise.
The strategic programme is a part of Dangote’s broader dedication to eliminating logistics prices, enhancing vitality effectivity, selling sustainability and supporting Nigeria’s financial improvement.
