By Ayo Kehinde
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified that the company’s trade relations with its workers remain friendly as it neither interferes with nor restricts their rights to freely join legally recognised trade unions.
In a statement on Friday, Dangote not only reaffirmed respect for labour rights and commitment to employee welfare and workplace safety, but it also described claims of its monopoly as recycled falsehoods.
While reaffirming its adherence to both Nigerian and international labour laws, the refinery emphasised that trade union membership remains strictly a voluntary choice in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
The refinery’s statement came amid what it described as a distortion of facts by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) concerning the trade relations with its workforce. It dismissed as false allegations that drivers were forced to sign contracts barring union membership.
The refinery also dismissed accusations of union suppression as unfounded, viewing them as part of a broader campaign to undermine private sector progress. It advised NUPENG to focus on addressing its dispute with Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTDs), rather than embroiling Dangote in its conflicts with the unit.
“It is therefore misplaced to attribute responsibility to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the personal choices made by drivers regarding union affiliation”, the refinery said.
It maintained that it has consistently supported labour unions, including NUPENG, by providing office space, operational vehicles for them within the refinery and granting full access to their members and operations.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery maintains a cordial and cooperative relationship with all recognised trade unions, including NUPENG. We have consistently supported their legitimate activities within our facility, including providing office space and enabling member engagement and dues collection without interference.
“We urge NUPENG to act in good faith, respect the ongoing dialogue process, and refrain from making statements that could undermine national economic recovery efforts led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“As for claims of monopoly, we reject these as recycled falsehoods. The greater concern lies in the inaction of those with the means to invest in Nigeria, who instead choose to remain on the sidelines. At Dangote, we have chosen to invest boldly in Nigeria’s future, and we will continue to do so. It is time others follow suit”, it said.
The company also outlined the structure of its new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered trucks fleet, comprising teams of drivers, engineers, and logistics personnel. Drivers enjoy compensation packages three times above the National Minimum Wage, alongside group insurance, pensions, medical allowances, housing benefits, and access to housing loans.
Far from threatening jobs, the rollout of 10,000 CNG-powered trucks is projected to generate at least 60,000 direct and many more indirect jobs, bolstering economic inclusion and poverty reduction. This N720 billion investment supports the Federal Government’s energy transition roadmap by lowering logistics costs, enhancing distribution, and ensuring rural communities benefit from domestic refining.
