The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vowed to commence its planned strike today (Monday), raising fears of nationwide fuel scarcity despite last-minute intervention from the Federal Government.
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed that government officials had reached out to the union in an effort to avert the action but said the strike would go ahead pending the outcome of fresh talks scheduled for today.
The industrial action, first announced on Friday, stems from NUPENG’s opposition to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s decision to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retailers. The union argues the move sidelines its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch and poses a threat to members’ livelihoods.
The refinery, which had initially slated the rollout of the scheme for August 15 before delays in China pushed it back, has maintained it will begin once a critical number of the trucks arrive in Nigeria.
In a joint statement signed by Akporeha and NUPENG’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union accused Dangote of “anti-labour practices” that would undercut the interests of local workers if left unchallenged.
