Oil War: NUPENG Gives Fresh Warning Over “Arrogant Disregard” for Due Process

Just two days after ending its nationwide strike, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is raising concerns about possible broken promises made during a peace agreement facilitated by the federal government.

In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, NUPENG President Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale claimed that commitments made in a meeting with the State Security Service (SSS), Finance Minister Wale Edun, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) representatives, and a major refinery company are not being followed.

This peace agreement confirmed workers’ rights to organize and set a two-week period to implement these commitments. NUPENG is worried that these important rights are already being ignored, which could lead to more problems in the industry.

The agreement stated: “That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management agreed to the unionisation of employees.

“The process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th–22nd September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union.”

NUPENG, however, alleged that on September 10, directives were issued for truck drivers who had long been members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the union to strip union stickers from their vehicles.

The union said, “Today, Thursday, 11th September, 2025, he instructed them to forcefully drive into the Refinery to load, and Union officials stopped them from entering the Refinery to load because their trucks violated Union loading rules and regulations.

“He flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the Navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the Union officials.”

Condemning what it described as “arrogant disregard” for due process, NUPENG warned: “We call on everyone to know that no individual is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We strongly condemn this blatant lack of respect for the laws of this country.”

While assuring that it has no intention of making life unbearable for Nigerians through fuel distribution disruptions, the union appealed to the federal government to intervene urgently.

The statement added, “We call on the Federal Government not to allow the Navy and other security agents being paid by the resources of this country to be used with impunity against the laws and people of this country.

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“Security agents should not allow an individual to ride roughshod with impunity even while not observing terms of agreement reached in meetings in which security agents facilitated, along with Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

NUPENG said its members nationwide are now on red alert and may resume the suspended strike.

“We are by this statement placing all our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action and calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, all Regional and Global Working people and Civil Society Organisations to rise in support and solidarity.

“His wealth cannot make him above the law. Our Solidarity remains Constant, for the Union makes us Strong!” the statement added.