Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to step in and stop what he described as anti-labour practices by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Falana accused the company of attempting to force newly employed drivers to sign agreements barring them from joining existing unions in the oil and gas industry — a move he argued violates both Nigerian laws and international labour standards.
His reaction came as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) insisted it would commence an indefinite strike from Monday, September 9, in protest of the alleged policy. The union said the action was necessary to defend workers’ constitutional right to freedom of association.
While some driver associations, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), distanced themselves from the strike, NUPENG received backing from the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), which announced a three-day suspension of fuel distribution in solidarity.
Falana warned that the Dangote Group’s reported policy contravenes Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, Section 12 of the Trade Union Act, and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He also cited international conventions signed by Nigeria, including the International Labour Organization’s Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee workers the right to organise and bargain collectively.
He urged the Registrar of Trade Unions to immediately call the refinery to order, stressing that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should also check what he described as monopolistic practices by the company.
“The right of Nigerian workers to unionise was won long before independence,” Falana said, insisting that no company should be allowed to roll back those gains.
The development comes amid mounting tensions in the energy sector, with fears that the looming strike could disrupt fuel supply nationwide if the standoff is not resolved quickly.
