The federal government on Monday, September 8, 2025, engaged officials of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in a meeting in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to avert a nationwide strike. The industrial action was scheduled to begin the same day over a dispute with the Dangote Group.
The government delegation was led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, while NUPENG’s representatives were led by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi.
The meeting, which had been rescheduled to accommodate the arrival of union officials from Lagos, began in the evening. The main point of contention is the Dangote Group’s alleged policy of preventing its employees from joining trade unions. NUPENG insists that no oil worker will be allowed to work with the Dangote Group without being unionized, stating that the company’s anti-union practices violate Nigerian laws and international conventions on freedom of association.
Speaking before the meeting went into a closed-door session, Dingyadi appealed to all parties to embrace peace and expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved amicably. He emphasized the critical role of the oil industry in the nation’s economy and warned that a strike would cause significant hardship and financial losses.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also issued a “red alert” to its affiliate unions, urging them to prepare for a solidarity action against the Dangote Group’s practices. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has also threatened a three-day shutdown from Tuesday if the dispute is not resolved. The situation remains tense as stakeholders await the outcome of the ongoing conciliation efforts.
The Dangote Group has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
