A coalition of civil society organizations has rallied behind Dangote Petroleum Refinery, denouncing the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for what they described as “economic terrorism” and coercive unionization tactics.
In a press conference held in Abuja, the group vowed to pursue legal action against any party infringing on workers’ rights and called for a federal probe into NUPENG’s alleged backers.
Representing a broad alliance including the Civil Rights Defenders Advocates, Citizens for Economic Justice, Nigeria Freedom Network, and eight other groups, Convener Dr. Agabi Emmanuel accused NUPENG of violating constitutional freedoms by pressuring refinery workers, including truck drivers, to join the union under threats of blockades and intimidation.
“This is not unionism; it is extortion dressed in the garb of workers’ rights,” Dr. Emmanuel declared, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which protects the right to freely associate or abstain from unions.
The coalition highlighted NUPENG’s reported actions, such as obstructing non-union workers from loading fuel and affixing seals on trucks to assert control, as breaches of the Trade Unions Act and Trade Disputes Act.
They praised Dangote Refinery for upholding voluntarism and ensuring a safe working environment, contrasting it with NUPENG’s “strong-arm tactics” that they said sabotage Nigeria’s energy security.
Dr. Emmanuel warned that the coalition would file lawsuits if Dangote or any entity forces workers into union membership, emphasizing that “the right to choose is non-negotiable.”
They urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate NUPENG’s sponsors, including allegations of high-profile intimidation involving the Navy and helicopter flyovers.
“Any individual or group found complicit must face prosecution for economic terrorism,” he added, framing the refinery as a “cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy security.”
The statement concluded with a call to the Federal Government, civil society, and international labor bodies to denounce NUPENG’s “economic blackmail” and support industrial harmony.
“The Nigerian people have had enough,” Dr. Emmanuel said. “We will not tolerate any group holding our nation to ransom.”
