The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared full solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in its face-off with the Dangote Group, accusing the conglomerate of anti-union practices, exploitation, and monopolistic control.
In a statement issued on Saturday, September 6, and signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC described the alleged conduct of the Dangote Group as “a declaration of war against the Nigerian working class, trade unionism, and the principle of Decent Work.”
The congress alleged that Dangote Refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector, thrives on casualisation, employs foreign workers over qualified Nigerians, and systematically prevents employees from joining independent unions.
“By seeking to recruit drivers under the condition that they must not belong to NUPENG or any oil and gas union, Dangote and his associates are directly violating Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Labour Act, and ILO Conventions 98 and 87,” the statement read.
The NLC further accused the group of monopolistic practices across multiple sectors, including cement, sugar, flour, and petroleum products, saying the strategy exploits scarcity to raise prices and deepen hardship for Nigerians.
The labour body outlined several demands, including:
An end to all anti-union practices within Dangote companies.
Immediate unionisation of Dangote Refinery and its subsidiaries.
Federal Government intervention to compel compliance with Nigerian labour laws and international conventions.
Mobilisation of Nigerian workers and industrial unions for resistance if violations persist.
Ajaero warned that the labour movement would not hesitate to embark on nationwide action if the Dangote Group fails to change course.
“Our solidarity is not negotiable. We will fight because we must. The working class must not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” the NLC stated.
