Dangote: FG Holds Conciliation Meeting Today With NUPENG

...Urges union to shelve nationwide strike 


 
The Federal Government has appealed to u the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to reconsider its decision to embark on a nationwide strike starting today, Monday, September 8, 2025, following its dispute with Dangote Refinery.
The dispute centres around the Dangote Group’s policy that allegedly restrains its employees from associating unions in the industry.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, made the appeal in a statement signed by the head of information in the ministry, Patience Onuobia.
Dingyadi also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,  to retract its red alert which urged its affiliate unions to prepare for a nationwide strike in support of the petroleum workers protesting what they describe as the Dangote Group’s anti-worker and anti-union practices.
According to the minister, with the ministry’s ongoing intervention in the matter, all unions involved should postpone any plans to disrupt the petroleum sector in a bid to ensure stability in the oil sector of the economy.
Dingyadi's words, “I have invited all the parties for a conciliation meeting tomorrow, Monday, September 8, 2025. Since I have intervened, I plead with NUPENG to rescind their decision to shut down the petroleum sector from tomorrow, (Monday, September 8, 2025).
“I also appeal to the NLC to withdraw the red alert it issued to its affiliate unions to be on standby for a nationwide strike in solidarity with NUPENG. The petroleum sector is very important to this country. It constitutes the core of the country’s economy.
“A strike in the petroleum sector, even for just a day, will have an adverse consequential impact on the economy. It will not only lead to heavy revenue losses by the country, running into billions of naira, but also cause untold hardship and difficulties for Nigerians.
“Hence, I plead with the unions to give peace a chance. I assure them that this matter will be resolved amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved.”
The minister, however, assured Nigerians that the dispute would be resolved harmoniously to ensure that no disruption occurred in the petroleum sector, which was vital to the nation's economy.
On Friday, NUPENG announced that its members would begin seeking alternative employment from Dangote, starting September 8, noting that,  the action was a direct response to Dangote Refinery’s alleged efforts to bar its compressed natural gas, CNG, tanker drivers from affiliating with labour unions, even as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association, DTCDA, have declared their refusal to participate in the planned strike organised by NUPENG.
However, despite opposition from the  DTCDA, NUPENG on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to proceed with the planned industrial action.