By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government on Monday rescheduled a crucial tripartite conciliation meeting aimed at averting a nationwide strike by oil workers over Dangote Refinery’s alleged anti-union practices.
Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammadu Dingyadi had moved the meeting forward from 3 p.m. to 10 a.m., but union leaders and stakeholders were still in Lagos trying to catch flights to Abuja at the revised time. An official of the ministry confirmed the session could not begin until their arrival.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused Dangote Group of “crude and dangerous anti-union practices, a monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies.” The union alleges the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the sector and bars newly recruited drivers for imported compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks from joining unions.
According to NUPENG, the conditions violate Section 40 of the Constitution, the Labour Act, and International Labour Organisation conventions guaranteeing freedom of association.
The Dangote Group has yet to publicly comment on the allegations.
