NUPENG had on Friday announced that its members would down tools from September 8, citing attempts by the refinery to compel newly recruited compressed natural gas (CNG) tanker drivers to sign contracts barring them from joining established unions.
While the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) distanced themselves from the strike, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) declared a three-day suspension of petroleum product lifting and dispensing starting September 9 in solidarity with NUPENG.
In a statement on Sunday, Falana argued that Dangote Group’s policy violates 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 (Ratification and Enforcement) Act. He further noted that the policy breaches international conventions Nigeria has ratified, including ILO Conventions 87 and 98, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“The policy of the Dangote Group contravenes Nigerian and international labour laws. The Registrar of Trade Unions must immediately call the Dangote Refinery to order, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should halt its monopolistic practices, which contravene the FCCPA 2018,” Falana said.
He added that while strong trade unions exist in advanced economies such as the UK and US, the Dangote Group appeared determined to suppress union activities in Nigeria.
“However, the struggle of Nigerian workers to unionise was fought and won under colonial rule. To that extent, we support the strike by NUPENG against this policy that seeks to erode the rights of Nigerian workers to unionise,” Falana stated.
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