The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has given details of what transpired at Monday’s meeting between the Federal Government, Dangote Refinery and others over its ongoing strike.
According to the union, Dangote Group, the owner of MRS Group, Sayyu Dantata, walked out of the meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi.
NUPENG national president, Williams Akporeha, disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday.
DAILY POST had reported that the meeting to resolve the face-off between NUPENG and Dangote Group ended in deadlock on Monday.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting during the interview with Arise TV, Akporeha warned that Nigerians should not tolerate investors like Dangote Group with tendencies of dictatorship.
“Everybody wants Dangote to succeed, including NUPENG. But he must play by the rules. Nigeria cannot afford investors who act like dictators or slave drivers,” he said.
“So, the strike continues anyway,” he stated, noting that the union is open to dialogue.
Recall that NUPENG, the union, on Monday directed members to down tools in protest against Dangote’s anti-labour practices.
NUPENG said Dangote Group’s refusal to allow its Compressed Natural Gas trucks to join a recognised union is an attempt to enslave the workers.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Dangote Group, in a statement by its spokesman, Anthony Chijiena, said the NUPENG strike will not cause fuel shortage.
On Monday, DAILY POST reported that transportation fares soared in Warri over fuel scarcity and the shutdown of depots and filling stations by striking members of NUPENG.
A more worrying development for Nigerians is that other prominent unions in the country’s oil sector have threatened to join NUPENG in the strike.
Dangote Group, MRS owner, walked out of meeting with FG – NUPENG on why strike continues
