By JOAN NWAGWU

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has protested what it described as Aliko Dangote’s anti-union agenda in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

This was stated in a joint statement signed by Mr Williams Akporeha, National Executive President, and Mr Aflabi Olawale, Secretary General of the union on Friday in Abuja.

The union accused Dangote and his cousin, Sayyu Dantata, of plotting to create a monopoly that threatened jobs, unions, and the economic rights of Nigerians.

“NUPENG is seriously concerned and disturbed with the unconscionable business practices of Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits.

“To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and voice amounts to creating filthy wealth.

“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers,it said.

The union also raised concerns over Dangote’s plan to import 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks for fuel distribution, which NUPENG claimed was a scheme to dominate the downstream sector.

According to NUPENG, new drivers recruited under the scheme are being forced to sign agreements preventing them from joining existing trade unions, a move the union has labeled unconstitutional.

Union leaders stated that this practice violated workers’ rights protected under Nigeria’s Constitution and international labour conventions ratified by the country since 1960.

“This is not philanthropy, it is economic sabotage.Dangote’s plan will enslave workers, crush competition, and ultimately raise fuel prices for ordinary Nigerians.

“Therefore, all the members of The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG wil from Monday, Sept. 8 start looking for alternative employments and skills and sources of livelihoods, ”the union said.

NUPENG urged the Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to intervene, warning that failure to act would encourage “tyrannical, anti-union business practices.”

The union also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and international labour organisations to prepare for mass protests and industrial action in solidarity.

“Workers are no slaves, to resist unions is to resist collective bargaining.

“The working class will not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” it said. (NAN)