The coalition of Civil Society Organisations, traders, artisans, and petroleum consumers on Tuesday staged a rally in Abuja, condemning threats of strike action by petroleum sector unions and accusing oil marketers of economic sabotage.
The groups includes the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF), National Coalition for Market Men, Women and Artisans (NACOMWA), and Petroleum Consumers Protection Alliance (PCPA).
The group marched to the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to register their grievances.
Speaking at a news conference during the rally, the coalition leaders described the planned strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as a “dagger to Nigerians’ hearts.”
They alleged that the strike threats were in support of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), which they accused of working to frustrate local refining initiatives, particularly the Dangote Refinery.
“DAPPMAN has thrived on import dependency, subsidy scams, and artificial scarcity. Their agenda is to undermine the Dangote Refinery and preserve their stranglehold on Nigerians,” Comrade Ibrahim Suleiman, President of COCSON, said.
The coalition welcomed the recent Federal High Court ruling restraining PENGASSAN from cutting gas supply to the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a victory for ordinary Nigerians.
They also dismissed union demands to unionise the refinery, citing examples of private universities, transport companies, and schools whose workers were not compelled to join existing unions.
