A heated debate has emerged among Nigerian legal experts regarding the legitimacy of union representation for workers at Dangote Refinery, as the company finds itself at odds with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). This disagreement highlights the complexities of labour laws and unionism within Nigeria’s thriving oil and gas sector.
The conflict arose after Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest privately-owned oil refinery, reportedly challenged the union’s right to represent some of its workforce. NUPENG, a major trade union with decades of experience advocating for petroleum sector workers, insists it holds the exclusive mandate to represent refinery employees under existing labour regulations.
However, legal practitioners remain split on the matter. Some lawyers argue that Dangote Refinery workers should have the freedom to form or join alternative unions if they so desire, citing Nigeria’s Trade Union Act, which permits multiple unions under certain circumstances.
They contend that the refinery’s position aligns with workers’ rights to choose their representation freely, especially in a rapidly evolving corporate environment.
Conversely, other legal experts emphasize the binding role of NUPENG as the recognized union for petroleum and natural gas workers, arguing that allowing separate unionism could fragment worker solidarity and weaken collective bargaining power. They warn that such disputes could set troubling precedents for labour relations in Nigeria’s oil industry, which has historically been unionized under broad, sector-specific bodies.
The tussle has attracted attention not only from labour rights activists but also from government agencies tasked with mediating industrial relations. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has reportedly called for dialogue between Dangote Refinery management and NUPENG leaders to resolve the impasse amicably, emphasizing the need to protect workers’ welfare while respecting corporate governance.
This legal controversy comes at a time when Nigeria’s oil sector is undergoing significant transformation, with new investments and modernization efforts aiming to boost domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imports. As one of the largest industrial projects in the country, Dangote Refinery’s labour relations could influence future union dynamics across the sector.
Industry watchers say the outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications, not only for unionism at Dangote but also for labour policies affecting thousands of workers in Nigeria’s petroleum industry. Both parties have expressed willingness to engage in discussions, but the legal questions surrounding union rights remain a subject of rigorous debate among Nigeria’s legal fraternity.
