Petroleum Workers Commend Dangote Over Respect for Workers’ Rights

The Petroleum Workers Advancement Initiative (PEWAI), a coalition advocating for the welfare of oil and gas workers, has commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the management of Dangote Refinery for what it described as their respect for workers’ rights and commitment to national economic stability. In a statement on Wednesday signed by its president, Comrade Ebikeme […]

The Petroleum Workers Advancement Initiative (PEWAI), a coalition advocating for the welfare of oil and gas workers, has commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the management of Dangote Refinery for what it described as their respect for workers’ rights and commitment to national economic stability.

In a statement on Wednesday signed by its president, Comrade Ebikeme Okorotie, PEWAI welcomed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on September 8 between Dangote Refinery, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and other stakeholders as a decisive step towards strengthening industrial harmony and economic development.

The MoU, which was also signed by Sayyu Dantata, managing director of the Dangote Group, Ogbugo Ukoha, executive director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Benson Upah, acting general secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Nuhu Toro, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), led to the suspension of a strike that had been scheduled to commence on September 8, 2025.

The agreement allows workers at both Dangote Refinery and its petrochemical operations to unionise freely and guarantees that no employee will be penalised for exercising this right. The process of unionisation is expected to conclude within two weeks, from September 9 to 22, 2025.

PEWAI described the resolution as a laudable demonstration of responsible leadership, noting that the refinery’s willingness to uphold workers’ rights reflects a commitment to both employee welfare and broader economic stability.

“Dangote’s management has shown that it is possible to respect workers’ rights while simultaneously promoting economic growth,” Comrade Okorotie said.

The group also stressed the national importance of the refinery, noting that maintaining smooth operations is vital for fuel supply, job security, and economic progress.

PEWAI urged all unions in the oil and gas sector to continue balancing the rights of workers with the wider responsibility to sustain national economic growth.

“Industrial disputes are inevitable in any dynamic economy, but the way they are resolved defines the health of labour relations and the nation’s economic trajectory,” PEWAI said.

The coalition also commended the roles of the NLC, TUC, and other stakeholders in facilitating the agreement, describing their involvement as critical to averting disruption and maintaining confidence in the petroleum sector.

“Dangote has shown that business leadership and national interest can coexist. We expect all stakeholders to continue along this path,” Okorotie added.