Femi Falana (SAN), has declared his support for the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), accusing the Dangote Group of violating workers’ constitutional rights.
The dispute arises from reports that Dangote Petroleum Refinery intends to compel newly hired drivers to sign undertakings preventing them from joining existing oil and gas unions.
Meanwhile, the reconciliatory meeting convened by the federal government between Dangote refinery and oil union ended in a stalemate on Monday night after officials of Dangote walked out.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana condemned the alleged policy, saying it clearly violates both Nigerian law and international labour standards.
“The policy of the Dangote Group contravenes Section 40 of the Constitution, Section 12 of the Trade Union Act, and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act,” he stated.
He further noted that the measure also breaches the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) of the International Labour Organisation. In addition, it contravenes the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all of which Nigeria has ratified.
“In view of the legal obligations imposed on the Federal Government of Nigeria by the Constitution, Trade Union Act, and international law to respect the fundamental rights of workers to freedom of association, the Registrar of Trade Unions should call Dangote Petroleum Refinery to order without delay.
“At the same time, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should halt the monopolistic practices of the Dangote Group forthwith, as they violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018,” Falana said.
The Senior Advocate emphasised that trade unions are essential institutions even in advanced capitalist economies, accusing Dangote of taking advantage of regulatory weakness in Nigeria to suppress labour rights.
“Even though powerful trade unions exist in all capitalist countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, the Dangote Group appears determined to undermine trade unions in Nigeria because it has been allowed to operate outside the ambit of the law.
“However, the Dangote Group should be reminded that the struggle of Nigerian workers to unionise was fought and won under the British colonial regime. To that extent, we support the strike of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers against the policy of the Dangote Group, which seeks to erode the rights of Nigerian workers to unionise,”* he declared.
