The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the escalating dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group.

In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, and released on Saturday in Abuja, the NLC accused the Dangote Group of “anti-union practices, monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies.”

The appeal followed NUPENG’s announcement of plans to commence a nationwide strike from Sunday over the alleged practices.

Ajaero called on the President to “immediately call Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Sayyu Dantata to order” and impress upon them the need to respect labour laws and international conventions.

He warned that government must not look away while a few individuals “privatise the nation’s energy future and enslave its workforce.”

According to him, the Dangote Group has been exploiting Nigerian workers while disregarding their constitutional rights to unionise and bargain collectively.
“The NLC unequivocally condemns the anti-union, anti-worker, and monopolistic practices of the Dangote Group and its affiliates. Nigerian workers are not slaves and cannot be serially abused without consequences,” he said.

The NLC further demanded the immediate unionisation of the Dangote Refinery and all its subsidiaries.

Ajaero disclosed that preparations were underway for “a united resistance in solidarity with NUPENG, including possible industrial action.”
“If Dangote continues on this reckless anti-union path, we will move beyond words to action. Our solidarity is not negotiable. We will fight because we must. The working class must not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” he declared.