Fresh fuel scarcity looms as tanker drivers threaten strike over Dangote Refinery’s ‘ban’ on union membership
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) says workers will down their tools and start sourcing for alternative employment from September 8.
The union said the decision is in response to Dangote refinery’s alleged prevention of its CNG tanker drivers from “joining labour unions”.
The union spoke via a statement jointly signed by Williams Akporeha, NUPENG’s president, and Afolabi Olawale, the association’s general secretary, in Abuja on Friday.
On June 15, the Dangote refinery had said it would begin the nationwide distribution of diesel and petrol on August 15.
The refinery also said it had acquired 4,000 CNG-powered tankers to enhance the distribution.
In the statement announcing the proposed service withdrawal, NUPENG alleged that the recruitment of the tanker drivers is being carried out on the condition of the drivers not joining the existing union.
NUPENG called on the federal government and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intervene in the matter.
The union urged the public to bear any inconveniences from its members’ actions, calling on unions and labour bodies to stand in solidarity through peaceful and industrial actions.
