Dangote Petroleum Refinery has said membership of trade unions by its employees remains voluntary and not compulsory, in line with the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

The company stated this in a release on Wednesday while responding to what it described as “distortions of facts” by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) concerning its trade relations with workers.

The refinery stressed that it does not interfere with or restrict employees’ right to freely join legally recognized unions.

“It is therefore misplaced to attribute responsibility to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the personal choices made by drivers regarding union affiliation,” the company stated.

Dangote dismissed allegations that it forced drivers to sign contracts barring union membership, describing the claim as unfounded. It urged NUPENG to focus on resolving its internal dispute with the Petrol Tanker Drivers unit rather than “embroiling the refinery in its conflicts.”

The company added that accusations of union suppression formed part of a broader attempt to undermine private sector progress.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery maintains a cordial and cooperative relationship with all recognized trade unions, including NUPENG. We have consistently supported their legitimate activities within our facility, including providing office space and enabling member engagement and dues collection without interference,” it stated.

The refinery also reaffirmed support for mediation efforts by the Ministry of Labour and urged NUPENG to respect the ongoing dialogue process.

“We urge NUPENG to act in good faith, respect the ongoing dialogue process, and refrain from making statements that could undermine national economic recovery efforts led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” the statement read.

Dangote Industries Limited, which described itself as Nigeria’s largest private-sector employer, said it prioritizes workforce welfare, safety, and career progression. It disclosed that drivers under its new Compressed Natural Gas trucks scheme receive packages three times above the national minimum wage, alongside group insurance, pensions, medical allowances, housing benefits, and access to loans.

The company explained that the rollout of 10,000 CNG-powered trucks would create at least 60,000 direct jobs and many more indirect opportunities. It described the N720bn investment as part of efforts to reduce logistics costs, expand domestic refining benefits to rural areas, and support the Federal Government’s energy transition plan.

Dangote added that since the refinery’s commissioning a year ago, Nigeria had shifted from being Africa’s biggest importer of refined fuel to a net exporter, reaching markets in the United States. The firm highlighted its production of by-products such as polypropylene, base oils, and jet fuel, which it said were driving growth in plastics, aviation, lubricants, and agro-processing.

According to the company, its operations have eliminated recurring fuel scarcity, stabilized prices, and supplied high-quality fuel despite challenges from importers of substandard products. It also noted that over 570,000 jobs had been created across logistics, construction, and maintenance, while host communities benefitted from new roads, power, and water supply.

The company said it had become a hub for skills transfer, training thousands of Nigerian engineers and technicians in modern refining.

On concerns of monopoly, Dangote dismissed them as “recycled falsehoods.” (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)