JUST IN:NUPENG Suspends Strike After Dangote Agrees to Unionise Drivers
The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on Tuesday suspended its two-day nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the Dangote Group to unionise drivers employed by the refinery.
NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed the development saying the breakthrough was achieved at a meeting summoned by the Department of State Services.
“We have suspended the strike. The Dangote refinery has agreed to unionise its drivers. We signed an agreement,” Akporeha said.
The strike had grounded fuel loading across the country on Monday after petroleum tanker drivers complied with NUPENG’s directive to shun depots in protest against what they described as anti-labour practices at the Dangote refinery.
Filling stations in parts of the country were shut, while operations at the Aradel refinery in Obele, Port Harcourt, and the Kwale Hydrocarbon facility in Delta State were paralysed.
The union had accused Dangote of attempting to bar drivers recruited for its 4,000 compressed natural gas trucks from joining any labour union, describing the move as a violation of constitutional and international labour rights.
Despite earlier appeals from the Federal Government to shelve the plan, Akporeha had on Sunday insisted the strike would proceed
