₦airaland Forum

After about five hours in a closed-door meeting on Monday night, the last-minute reconciliatory meeting convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to resolve the crisis between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Aliko Dangote to avert an industrial action, has ended in a deadlock.

As of 11 pm, midnight at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, parties to the deliberation could not arrive at any meaningful resolution.

The representative of Dangote Refinery, Sayyu Dantata, had walked out of the meeting, which had in attendance, both ministers of labour, the leaders of NUPENG, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) and the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA).


Recall that NUPENG had said it would start sourcing for alternative employment from September 8, over the refusal by Aliko Dangote to allow newly-employed Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tanker drivers at the Dangote Refinery to “join labour unions.”

Although some of the unionists at some point staged a walkout, they later went in but still failed to reach any meaningful conclusion.

Some of the labour leaders were overheard complaining about the representative from Dangote Group, who was alleged to be making matters worse for them as he was being recalcitrant to sign the MoU.

Some of the unionists, however, suggested that the meeting should be adjourned for a later date.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting abruptly came to an end, the President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, who accused Dangote of an intent to not only monopolise the system but also to monopolise the workers, insisted that the union would not allow any form of modern slavery.

He said: The action of Labour is also for the interest of Nigerians. We cannot stand and see an investor whose main purpose is to come and enslave Nigerians.


“It cannot take us back to the dark days of slavery. Nigerians have wished so well that we enslave them. So it’s unfortunate that at this point in time, we’re having an investor whose main purpose is to say there can’t be a union in his establishment.

“He wants to monopolise the entire system and even monopolise workers alongside them. We said no, and it can’t happen during our time.”

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Benson Upah, explained that due to the action of the representative of Dangote Refinery, the parties involved were unable to reach any form of agreement.


“The representative of the Dangote refinery walked out on the Minister and organised labour. So there was no agreement? No, even when we bent backwards to accommodate his uncompromising behaviour, he still did what he had to do. So we are left with no option but to do the needful.”

When asked what the needful might be, he responded, “The action continues,” even as he added, “It takes more than a party to reach a resolution. So whenever the representative of the Dangote petroleum refinery sees the need for a meaningful dialogue, we are ready.

“We are ready any time, even this night. If he changes his manner and comes back, that he is ready for discussion, we are here. That is the reason why we are here.”

On the impact the strike would have on the masses, the NLC asked that the unions should not be put on the defensive; rather, “I want you to speak courageously to the misbehaviour of this gentleman.”

Earlier, before proceeding into a closed-door session, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, had appealed to all parties to be peaceful and accommodating to reach an agreement.

According to him, the government was committed to ensuring peace and stability with unions in the oil and gas industry, whom he stressed were not ones to toy with.


“We believe that the gentlemen who are here today will assist us, and I can see the level of commitment in them to see that we resolve these issues

“What we are discussing today is very important to the peace and stability of the country and our economy. The oil industry is not a sector that we will play with. I want to appeal to all of us to try as much as possible to have a listening ear and be ready to contribute to relegation of this matter.”

Source: https://newtelegraphng.com/nupeng-strike-continues-as-dangote-rep-walks-out-of-meeting

NUPENG are criminals parading themselves as union , so you want to control how dangote distribute his products

Nigeria is always with problem. If you find solutions to a problem to ease Nigerians. Leaders will make the solution another problem for unease of Nigerians

It is well with everyone souls in this country. God will help us all. How will dangote representative walked out of crucial meeting

Nawa o

Wetin Nupeng dey follow Dangote drag self?

yarimo:
NUPENG are criminals parading themselves as union , so you want to control how dangote distribute his products

Let him join the union his workers are under labour laws in the land

saboteurs at every corner of this country, i mount here

Which kind wahala they happen for this shit hole why this people want us to be sad all day.

Dangote has no business attendig that meeting with NUPENG in the first place.
They can't force Dangote truck drivers to be unionised.

Everything about this administration is focused on either frustrating citizens or centred on frivolities...this could be the reason a company representative had the guts to walk out of a meeting with a minister of the federal Republic (a representative of the president)in attendance.....this is the anyhowness we keep seeing in this country...

Greed is just the problem. Greed will make pricing unsustainable

God will punish this nupeng of a thing....can't u strike against government that our road is not motorable......u are flexing muscle on private business....idiots

NUPENG has met their match. Dangote that fought NNPC and oil cabals to a standstill na him una wan dictate to how to sell his fuel. This move by NUPENG can be likened to the last kick of a dying horse. They no longer have a say in the value chain of oil distribution he ce the agitation. If u like shut down all the fuel stations dangote will supply pms to Ghana and other west Africa countries. NUPENG can't continue to hold everyone hostage in the name of unions. How many Nigerians belong to any union are they not living their lives.

yarimo:
NUPENG are criminals parading themselves as union , so you want to control how dangote distribute his products

Don't make comments on issues you're ignorant of.
The workers have rights and unions exists to protect those rights. If Dangote does not have any evil plans towards the drivers, why is he insisting that they cannot join unions?

Enddy50ty:
Dangote has no business attendig that meeting with NUPENG in the first place.
They can't force Dangote truck drivers to be unionised.

Exactly. It seems the fg want to use them as a tool to curtail the company and keep inflicting pains on Nigerians. It would be difficult to stop once they allow their staff in and they can decide to down tools for very flimsy reasons including those orchestrated by the fg

So this is the reason why fuel stations are closed?

Because of Dangote?

Wonderful! I don't blame him. I blame Nigerian government for not letting our refineries work!

Tụfịakwa!

Kukutente23:
Don't make comments on issues you're ignorant of.
The workers have rights and unions exists to protect those rights. If Dangote does not have any evil plans towards the drivers, why is he insisting that they cannot join unions?

Must the union be NUPENG. Are the workers complaining about the terms of employment? I have worked in private sector all my life and have not belong to any Union and all employers have treated me fairly. If I am no longer satisfied with the working conditions of a company I look for another. Unionism in Nigeria is just a guise by lazy workers to idle around in a company without consequences. Every private company which dangote is one should determine if they want their workers belonging to any Union or not.

NUPENG enu yi ma gbe, if una no talk well. Dangote no be government wey una dey hold for neck.

Na business man wey get loans and ROI to meet.

Enddy50ty:
Dangote has no business attendig that meeting with NUPENG in the first place.
They can't force Dangote truck drivers to be unionised.

You are actually right.
His company is private.
He can actually make you sign a document that you cannot join any union while coming to work for him.
He didnt force them to apply.
They begged to apply and work for him.

Kukutente23:
Don't make comments on issues you're ignorant of.
The workers have rights and unions exists to protect those rights. If Dangote does not have any evil plans towards the drivers, why is he insisting that they cannot join unions?

Abi why don't nupeng pressure government to fix all federal roads as it causes accident, vehicle break down, longer delivery and insecurity which leads to tanker hijack, drivers shot by armed robbers. Oil sector union leaders are crooks with exception of comrade frank kokori who gave federal government a good run for their power.

yarimo:
NUPENG are criminals parading themselves as union , so you want to control how dangote distribute his products

did u even read to comprehend at all before u concluded?

One thing is certain in this matter. We need more competitors which implies more refineries that are functioning well ..🤔

stasius:
You are actually right.
His company is private.
He can actually make you sign a document that you cannot join any union while coming to work for him.
He didnt force them to apply.
They begged to apply and work for him.

Labor laws are constitutional no matter how you paint it. If dangote goes on, he will be sabotaged. A court injunction will stop his CNG powered trucks distribution.

I don't blame NUPENG, by the time Dangote fully ground in oil sector with his Monopoly system, we Nigerians should be ready to buy #2000 per litter.

adenigga:
Source: https://newtelegraphng.com/nupeng-strike-continues-as-dangote-rep-walks-out-of-meeting

Dangote should outsource the fleet and lets see if you will force them to join union

Kingpele:
Everything about this administration is focused on either frustrating citizens or centred on frivolities...this could be the reason a company representative had the guts to walk out of a meeting with a minister of the federal Republic (a representative of the president)in attendance.....this is the anyhowness we keep seeing in this country...

Dangote has every right not to attend that meeting and there is nothing anybody can do.... So you expect tinubu to put a gun to his head.....the govt can't even force both parties to listen to each other,unionism should be by choice not the mafia we have in this country.....atiku and obi should come out and make statements on how we can resolve this issue since pedestrian criticism is their hobby.

PulaPower:
Nawa o

Wetin Nupeng dey follow Dangote drag self?

Dangote has a monopolistic tendency.
So he wants to monopolise the distribution channel of his product. Straight from his refinery to the end users.
Which is not a bad thing in itself.
To achieve this, he plans to import 4000 new CNG powered trucks. These CNG trucks will replace all his old AGO/PMS powered trucks.
In addition to this, he wants to employ new drivers.

What that means is:
Loss of job for the old drivers.
Families once doing well will start doing badly economically as their means of income has been taken away.

On top of that, he is insisting that the new drivers must not join the PTD association nor the NUPENG.

This is where he stepped on the UNION.

You cant tell your employees not to join workers union.
How on earth would they be able to fight for their right if their rights and welfare is trampled on just like he is doing to the old drivers.

This is exactly the reason why the Union exists to amplify their members voice and help face their employers without the members facing job loss or any form of victimization.

Danogite cant have it all.
You win some , you lose some.

The Union is willing to compromise to allow him employ new drivers but he cant hinder them from joining workers/trade Union.

That's the point.

Fibonacci88:
Must the union be NUPENG. Are the workers complaining about the terms of employment? I have worked in private sector all my life and have not belong to any Union and all employers have treated me fairly. If I am no longer satisfied with the working conditions of a company I look for another. Unionism in Nigeria is just a guise by lazy workers to idle around in a company without consequences. Every private company which dangote is one should determine if they want their workers belonging to any Union or not.

You can speak for yourself. Not everyone working in private sector have experience of fair treatment from their employers. In fact, majority including Dangote's workers do not. Lour unionism is a right of workers all over the world and not something to be determined by the employer. That anomaly only exists in Nigeria where employers decide for workers whether to join union or not

Fibonacci88:
Must the union be NUPENG. Are the workers complaining about the terms of employment? I have worked in private sector all my life and have not belong to any Union and all employers have treated me fairly. If I am no longer satisfied with the working conditions of a company I look for another. Unionism in Nigeria is just a guise by lazy workers to idle around in a company without consequences. Every private company which dangote is one should determine if they want their workers belonging to any Union or not.

that's sl*very mentality and this is one of the reasons our oppressors always wins.

Dangote and Dantata should be allowed to exercise their fundamental right to Association

I guess the labour ( NLC, TUC et al) are all anti masses.

yarimo:
NUPENG are criminals parading themselves as union , so you want to control how dangote distribute his products

But that's not what the strike is about, neither was it mentioned anywhere in the op at all, did you bother to go through the news item before making this comment?

Gotocourt:
Abi why don't nupeng pressure government to fix all federal roads as it causes accident, vehicle break down, longer delivery and insecurity which leads to tanker hijack, drivers shot by armed robbers. Oil sector union leaders are crooks with exception of comrade frank kokori who gave federal government a good run for their power.

What is the business of NUPENG with govt's responsibility to fix bad roads? If they declare strike on that, you lots will come out to say they are sponsored by the opposition. Now they are minding their business you're accusing them of not minding what is not their business.
If they are crooks, they can be voted out by the union members. Acting as if only Kokori will ever be fit to be a union leader is disingenuous, How much of him do you even know?