A civil society coalition, Mass Action Against Economic Saboteurs (MAAES), has cautioned the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against endangering national stability with its planned industrial action targeting the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a statement issued on Saturday, MAAES President George Priye West described NUPENG’s threat to mobilise tanker drivers for a nationwide strike from September 8 as reckless, warning that it could plunge millions of Nigerians into unnecessary hardship.
According to him, union membership is a matter of choice and cannot be imposed on any worker.
“The Supreme Court has ruled clearly that joining a union is an individual right. No employee can be compelled. Any strike on this flimsy basis is not about workers’ rights but a deliberate attempt to destabilise the country,” West said.
NUPENG had alleged that Dangote Refinery was engaging in anti-labour practices by hiring drivers who were pressured to renounce union affiliation.
But the coalition dismissed the claims, saying they were part of a wider campaign to undermine Nigeria’s most ambitious private-sector project.
West maintained that the refinery is creating jobs, boosting domestic capacity, and offering a solution to Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports.
“This is a $20 billion investment built to serve Nigerians. To call it a threat is pure mischief. The refinery is not enslaving anyone, it is providing opportunities and hope,” he stressed.
The group criticised NUPENG for attempting to frustrate a project that represents progress at a time when the nation is already facing economic strain.
“It is disgraceful that the same unions that watched government refineries collapse are now threatening to sabotage the only refinery giving Nigeria a future. Nigerians will not allow this,” West declared.
MAAES urged the federal government and security agencies to step in swiftly to avert any strike action, describing such moves as economic sabotage.
“If anyone declares a strike on these baseless grounds, it must be treated as an attack on the people. This is not about labour rights, it is blackmail, and it borders on economic terrorism,” the coalition stated.
The group further called on Nigerians to ignore threats of scarcity, continue their daily activities, and resist what it described as a campaign of misinformation.
While affirming its respect for trade unionism, MAAES insisted that no organisation should impose membership on workers.
“The constitution protects both the right to join and the right not to join a union. NUPENG is trying to force itself on people to remain relevant. That is not democracy—it is tyranny,” West added.
The coalition concluded by describing the Dangote Refinery as a lifeline for the nation.
“This refinery is not the enemy—it is Nigeria’s best chance at achieving self-sufficiency. Those attacking it are fighting for their pockets, not for ordinary citizens. Nigerians must protect it as a national asset,” West said.
