The looming industrial face-off between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Refinery has heightened tension across the downstream oil sector, with petroleum marketers appealing to President Bola Tinubu to urgently step in and prevent a nationwide disruption in fuel supply.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) issued separate appeals on Saturday, stressing that the planned strike action by NUPENG could destabilize fuel distribution, trigger scarcity, and inflict untold hardship on Nigerians if left unresolved. Both associations urged the Federal Government and other critical stakeholders to intervene before Monday, September 8, when the strike is scheduled to begin.
According to NUPENG, the decision to down tools follows alleged unresolved disputes with the management of the Dangote Refinery, including issues bordering on workers’ welfare and operational agreements. The union maintained that the strike would be indefinite if its grievances were not addressed, warning that the refinery’s perceived unfair practices could set a dangerous precedent in the industry.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also waded into the matter, backing calls for dialogue but strongly accusing the Dangote Refinery of engaging in what it described as “anti-labour practices.” The NLC leadership warned that allowing such practices to persist would undermine workers’ rights, vowing to stand in solidarity with NUPENG should the strike commence.
Leaders of PETROAN and IPMAN highlighted that Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain was already fragile, and any disruption could lead to immediate queues at filling stations, panic buying, and price hikes. They appealed to the Presidency to summon all parties to the negotiation table, insisting that dialogue remained the only sustainable way to prevent a nationwide crisis.
Observers note that this industrial dispute comes at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with economic challenges, including high inflation and rising energy costs. Analysts have cautioned that a prolonged strike by NUPENG could further erode public confidence in the stability of the nation’s petroleum sector.
As Monday approaches, all eyes are on the Federal Government to broker peace between NUPENG and the Dangote Refinery, with stakeholders warning that failure to act swiftly could plunge the country into another round of fuel scarcity and socio-economic instability.
