SOCIALIST LABOUR CALLS FOR MASS SUPPORT OF THE NUPENG STRIKE AGAINST DANGOTE GROUP.

Socialist labour stands in solidarity with the Nupeng Strike against the Dangote Group of Companies. We call on Nigerian workers, students, youths, women and civil society groups to join Nupeng in its fight to stop Dangote Group from reducing its CNG tanker drivers and workers to wage slavery. A Dangote non-unionized cement truck driver injured Ruth Otabor in Auchi, Edo State just a few weeks ago. After a public outcry, the Dangote Group picked her up and she died in Lagos. Non-unionized Dangote truck drivers have a reputation for driving in ways that endanger lives of members of the public because they drive long hours for days without union influence on limit to number of driving hours that ensure rest periods. The idea of non-unionized drivers driving Dangote-imported 10,000 CNG truck drivers speeding recklessly across the length and breath of Nigerian roads and killing ordinary people is unacceptable. The Dangote Group believes it is above the laws of Nigeria and so does not care for the Nigerian masses and workers. It only cares for its oligopolistic profits.

The Dangote Group is worth $29.3 billion. Dangote’s wealth is clearly the result of the exploitation of African workers. Unlike most small businesses, the Nigerian government makes it easy for Dangote to access all the resources his companies need, such as his state-backed land grabs from local communities and import duty exemptions for its equipment and raw material. The government gives him cheap dollars, crude oil payable in Naira while everyday

Nigerians bear the cost of inflation and pay $2.45 per gallon for Dangote petrol. The Dangote group pays workers less than industry competitors, stealing the blood and sweat of its employees. The Dangote group employs workers as contract staff instead of full-time staff, denying workers the basic benefits of employees and the dignity of their labour. We say enough of the parasitic relationship of Dangote Group to Nigerian workers.

Dangote and his cousin, Sayyu Aliu Dantata, have decided that no tanker drivers at his refinery can belong to NUPENG, which is the only existing statutorily recognized union authorized to unionize petroleum tanker drivers. Drivers being recruited are being recruited on condition that they join only the union or Association formed by dangote group for workers. Anyone who wishes to work as a driver must agree to these slavish conditions, which also have implications for the safety of the public as we have seen in the unfortunate death of Ruth Otabor. This decision is not only illegal, it is deeply immoral. The Nigerian worker today has limited options for decent remuneration for their labour. This situation makes Nigerian workers particularly desperate.

When workers are desperate, employers will capitalise on that desperation to exploit them. A desperate non-unionized worker/driver will not question their employer, even when the employer directs them to dangerous actions. “Drive when you are tired,” “drive twenty hours a day,” “make sure this CNG tanker reaches Calabar, Sokoto, Kastina, Nguru, Maiduguri or Jimeta today”, “how you do it is your business.” The only defence the worker has is the union- NUPENG, the organisation that uses the power of many workers to fight for every junior oil and gas worker.

A union is like a broom; even a child can break a single broomstick, but together, the broomsticks become one broom and can withstand any attempts to break it. “Drive when you are tired,” “No, we will not, because not only is it illegal, it will kill us, it will kill other people on the road. It will kill our women and children all over Nigerian roads!. And we can say no because we are the union.”

So we must join NUPENG to draw a line against our exploitation by a billionaire class whose greed knows no end. NUPENG has chosen to fight this by going on strike, and the NLC has stated it will stand in solidarity with NUPENG.

Socialist Labour commends NUPENG for rejecting the parasitism of the Dangote Group. We praise the NLC for its stance and urge the NLC to support NUPENG in this battle fully. For the masses, when fuel scarcity hits, know that the Dangote Group is directly at fault. Dangote Group is contravening Nigerian law, international law, human morality and heavenly law. Know that NUPENG is taking a stand for the Nigerian worker and the masses. NUPENG’s actions today will keep drivers safe and save lives tomorrow. Only such actions can stop the casualisation and enslavement of the Nigerian worker. Support NUPENG today, or it will be you tomorrow!.

Support the NUPENG Strike! Aluta continua! Vitória é certa!