Tension Mounts as oil Workers Threaten to Resume Strike

• Accuse Dangote Refinery of Breaching Pact
• NUPENG Places members on red alert

As parts of Nigeria were yet to recover from the negative impacts of the two days strike by Nigerian oil workers which was called off on Wednesday, fears are that the National Union of Petroleum, and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and other oil related bodies may resume the suspended strike.

Just about 48 hours after the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) suspended its strike action, has the union alleged that the management of the Dangote Refinery had reneged on the resolutions reached.

In a statement jointly signed by its President and General Secretary, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, respectively, NUPENG warned that it might resume the suspended industrial action following a breach of the agreement reached between Dangote Refinery, the Federal Government, and all truck drivers who are members of NUPENG-PTD.

“We are by this statement placing all our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action and calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade 1 Support Our Dream Union Congress, all regional and global working people, and civil society organisations to rise in support and solidarity against this threat of the capitalist world,” NUPENG stated.

The union claimed that at a meeting convened by the Department of State Services and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of its employees.

It further stated that, notwithstanding the resolution reached and signed at the office of the DSS with three on the right of unionisation of the workers, truck drivers who were NUPENG-PTD members for several years were ordered to remove the union’s stickers from their trucks yesterday.

The statement partly read, “We call on the federal government not to allow the Navy and other security agents who are paid by the resources of this country to be used with impunity against the laws and people of this country.

“Security agents should not allow an individual to ride roughshod with impunity, even while not observing terms of agreement reached in meetings in which security agents facilitated, along with ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The meeting was attended by representatives of labour unions and the Dangote Group.

The union had suspended its strike on Tuesday following an agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery to recognise workers’ rights to unionise.

The deal was reached at a closed-door meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS) and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, confirmed the outcome, while the Ministry of Labour said it would issue a formal statement soon.