Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has assured that operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery are generating employment rather than displacing workers, despite threats of industrial action by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Speaking at a press conference at the refinery on Monday, Dangote addressed the union’s concerns, stressing that the company’s operations are creating jobs nationwide.
He announced that the deployment of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks will create at least 24,000 jobs across the country.
“We have not displaced any jobs; we are creating many more. The CNG trucks will not be operated by robots,” he said.
Dangote added that the company offers competitive pay and welfare benefits, revealing that employees earn salaries three times the national minimum wage. According to him, drivers receive living wages, life and health insurance covering their spouses and up to four children, as well as lifelong pensions.
He further explained that the company is not only hiring drivers but also mechanics, fleet managers and other professionals to support the CNG fleet.
His comments follow escalating tensions with NUPENG. On 7 September, the union announced plans for a nationwide strike over alleged anti-union practices by the refinery. It suspended a two-day strike on 9 September but threatened further industrial action two days later.
