The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused the Dangote Group of backtracking on an agreement that granted tanker drivers the right to unionise, announcing the resumption of its suspended strike.
The development comes barely 48 hours after both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlined concessions on workers’ rights, including recognition of unionisation at Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.
The agreement had stated: “Since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.”
In a memo signed on Thursday by NUPENG President, Comrade Akporeha Williams, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union accused the refinery of directing its tanker drivers, who had long been members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG, to remove union stickers from their trucks.
According to NUPENG, the directive came from Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, founder of the MRS Group.
The union alleged that Dantata instructed drivers on September 10, 2025, to strip off the stickers and the following day ordered them to force their way into the refinery to load products, in defiance of union rules.
The memo titled “Alert To The Nation: Dangote Empire Negates Resolutions Reached On 9 September 2025” stated, “This is to alert the general public and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that notwithstanding the resolution reached and signed at the office of the DSS with three Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Deputy Director General of the DSS in attendance on the right of unionisation of the Workers.
“Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 instructed all his Truck Drivers who are NUPENG-PTD members for several years to remove the Union Stickers from their trucks yesterday.
“Today, Thursday, 11th September, 2025, he instructed them to forcefully drive into Dangote Refinery to load and Union officials stopped them from entering the Refinery to load because their trucks violated Union loading rules and regulations.
“Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the Navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the Union officials.
“Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over.
“We call on everyone to let Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata know that he is not bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we strongly condemn his arrogant attitude towards official institutions of this great country and blatant lack of respect for the laws of this country.”
NUPENG also urged the federal government to prevent the military and other security agencies from being used against workers in what it described as an abuse of state resources.
The union argued that security institutions must uphold agreements brokered in their presence and resist pressure from individuals who disregard official resolutions.
“His wealth cannot make him above the law.
“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 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.”
The union added that despite the current crisis, it remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers while maintaining its role as a patriotic and responsible labour organisation
