Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified that joining a trade union remains a voluntary decision for its employees, not a compulsory requirement, in line with the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organisation conventions.
The company, in a statement on Wednesday, dismissed claims by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) suggesting otherwise, describing them as “distortions of facts.”
It stressed that workers are free to associate with any recognised union and denied allegations that it compelled tanker drivers to sign agreements barring union membership. “It is therefore misplaced to attribute responsibility to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the personal choices made by drivers regarding union affiliation,” the company said.
Dangote urged NUPENG to resolve its internal disputes with the Petrol Tanker Drivers branch rather than involving the refinery.
It also reaffirmed its support for mediation by the Ministry of Labour and appealed to the union to act in good faith and avoid actions that could undermine the government’s economic recovery agenda.
The refinery emphasised its cordial relations with organised labour, noting that unions operate freely within its facilities with access to offices, member engagement, and dues collection.
Highlighting its welfare policies, Dangote disclosed that drivers under its new Compressed Natural Gas trucks scheme earn three times the national minimum wage, in addition to group insurance, pensions, medical allowances, housing benefits, and loan facilities.
The company said the rollout of 10,000 CNG-powered trucks would generate at least 60,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly, backed by a ₦720 billion investment to reduce logistics costs and advance Nigeria’s energy transition plan.
According to the firm, the refinery’s commissioning has turned Nigeria from Africa’s largest importer of refined fuel into a net exporter, supplying markets as far as the United States.
It also pointed to its production of polypropylene, base oils, and jet fuel, which it said were boosting plastics, aviation, lubricants, and agro-processing industries.
The company noted that over 570,000 jobs had been created across logistics, construction, and maintenance, while host communities were benefitting from infrastructure such as roads, power, and water supply. It added that the refinery had become a hub for skills transfer, training thousands of Nigerian engineers and technicians.
On allegations of monopoly, Dangote dismissed them as baseless. “As for claims of monopoly, we reject these as recycled falsehoods.
The greater concern lies in the inaction of those with the means to invest in Nigeria, who instead choose to remain on the sidelines.
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At Dangote, we have chosen to invest boldly in Nigeria’s future and we will continue to do so. It is time others follow suit,” the statement read.
