IndustriALL Global Union has commended the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his investment patriotism in Africa. Speaking at a network meeting on unionization in Dangote group organsied by IndustriALL Global Union Africa Region on Thursday July 21, 2016 at the headquarter of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) Jibowu Yaba, the Africa Regional Chairman of IndustriALL Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu commended Aliko Dangote for leading industrialisation in the Africa continent. Aremu acknowledges the remarkable efforts of Aliko Dangote at re-industrialisation of the continent, stimulating the continent’s growth and creating more jobs for its huge population. The labour leader lauded the commitment of Dangote to sustainable industrial development and urges government to provide favourable environment for investment as well as improvement in infrastructural development. Dangote Group was commended for the strong network of branches across the Africa continent; Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Congo, Cameroun, Kenya, Ethiopia among others.

Comrade Aremu added that it was time Dangote group entered into mutually rewarding engagement with relevant unions with a view for unionization even as he called on trade unions to support business through improved productivity. According to him, “it is now time for Dangote group to ensure there is respect for minimum labour standard as subscribed by Nigeria by allowing all workers in Dangote group to freely belong to the unions.” As partners in progress, Aremu pledges the support and cooperation of IndustriALL Global to ensure business-friendly unionization of the Dangote workers.

IndustriALL Global Union with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the cement, mining, energy and manufacturing sectors. IndustriALL is a force in global solidarity taking up the fight for better working conditions and trade union rights around the world.

Non-unionization of most workers in Dangote Group has been a general issue of concern within the organised labour in the Africa continent in particular and the global union in general. The meeting was part of the multi-national organizing campaign for unionization in Dangote companies.

In attendance were the leadership and organizers of IndustriALL affiliate unions in Nigeria; National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Chemical and Non Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN), National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Mettalic Products Employees (NUCFRLAMPE), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) and National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE). The Africa Regional Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, Comrade Fabian Nkomo attended the meeting with a representative of Dangote Group.