The Department of State Services, (DSS), has summoned the management of Dangote Refinery and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), amid escalating tension over an alleged breach of an agreement on workers’ right to belong to the union of their choice.
After an MoU was signed by both parties, on September 9, 2025, witnessed by officials of the NLC, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), government ministers, and other stakeholders, the NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of breach of agreement and threatened fresh strike.
NUPENG President Prince Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, in a joint statement, said Dangote Refinery’s press release of September 11, 2025, misrepresented facts about its relationship with workers and their freedom to join NUPENG.
“The press statement by Dangote Petroleum Refinery dated 11th September 2025 further confirms the company’s aim to crush our union, NUPENG, as well as stifle competition, with the ultimate goal of increasing fuel prices in the long run.
“The attempt to create an illusion of division within our union is not only malicious but entirely fabricated. If a ‘faction of tanker drivers’ truly existed, Dangote should have persuaded them to call off the nationwide strike of Petroleum Tanker Drivers directed by NUPENG, which was effective, peaceful, and 100 percent successful,” parts of the statement read.
As at time of filing this report, Dangote Group had yet to respond to the latest allegations.
Its earlier statement insisted that association with any trade union at its refinery remains strictly voluntary, in line with Nigerian law and International Labour Organisation, ILO, conventions.
