Falana slammed dangote over the anti-simply policy, expressed support for Nupeng Strike

The famous human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (San), has threw his weight behind the strike planned by the National Union of Oil and Gas Workers (Nupeng), accused the dangote group underwent the constitutional rights of workers through the anti-serving practices of workers.

The controversy came from a report that Dangote Petroleum Refinery intended to force the newly recruited driver to sign a business that prohibited them from joining the existing oil and gas unions. Nupeng had vowed to start an unlimited strike on Monday, September 9, 2025, as a protest against the alleged policy, increasing the concern of National Fuel scarcity.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana said the action by the Dangote group firmly violated Nigerian law and the International Labor Convention.

“Dangote group policies are contrary to part 40 of the constitution, part 12 of the Labor Union Law, and Article 10 of the African Charter regarding the laws of human and people (ratification and enforcement),” he said.

He noted further that this step also violated the freedom of association and protection of the right to organize the convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the right to organize and conduct a joint negotiations, 1949 (No. 98) from the International Labor Organization, in addition to the Declaration of Human Rights that were not universal, political agreements on economic, social and cultural rights, and the United Nations.

“Given the legal obligations imposed on the Federal Nigerian government by the constitution, the Labor Union Law, and International Law to respect the basic rights of workers on freedom of association, trade unions must call the dangote petroleum refinery to order without delay.

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“At the same time, federal competitions and consumer protection commissions must stop monopolistic practices from dangote groups immediately, because they violated the federal consumer competition and protection in 2018,” Falana said.

Senior advocates emphasized that the union developed even in the most advanced capitalist countries, accusing Dangote exploiting the weaknesses of regulations in Nigeria to suppress labor rights.

“Although strong trade unions exist in all capitalist countries, including Britain and the United States, dangote groups seem to be determined to damage trade unions in Nigeria because they have been allowed to operate outside of law.

“However, the dangote group must be reminded that the struggle of Nigerian workers to unite is to be fought for and won under the British colonial regime. So far, we support the National Union of Oil and Gas Oil to the Dangote Group policy, who seek to erode the rights of Nigerian workers to cry out,” he said.