Strike: Labour Minister meets Dangote Group, NUPENG
To avert nationwide planned strike, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has summoned the management of Dangote group and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to an emergency meeting today (Monday).
This is in a frantic effort to halt the planned nationwide strike over alleged anti-union policy by Dangote Group.
The summons came against the backdrop of the oil workers’ plan to embark to begin a nationwide strike today, which is already endorsed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC
NUPENG on Friday, alleged that “the crude and dangerous anti-union practices, monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies being pursued by Aliko Dangote and his associates represent not just an attack on petroleum workers, but a full-blown declaration of war against the Nigerian working class, trade unionism, and the principle of decent work.’’
The union also alleged that Dangote Refinery “pays one of the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria today and treats its staff beneath acceptable standards.”
It warned that its latest recruitment condition barring drivers from joining any oil and gas union was a violation of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Labour Act, and ILO Conventions 98 and 87.
“This marks a dangerous road to fascism in industrial relations, where workers are treated as slaves without voice or dignity,” NUPENG warned.
A letter from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, dated September 6, 2025, and signed by the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, Falonipe Amo, on behalf of the minister, read: “I am directed to refer to a letter dated 6th September, 2025 with Ref No. HO/Adm/114/2025 from the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on the above subject and invite you to a tripartite conciliation meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment.
“The meeting is slated for 3 pm today at the Minister of Labour and Employment’s conference room.”
Ahead of the meeting, leaders of NUPENG have directed all members nationwide to begin an indefinite nationwide strike, pending the resolution of all the grievances with Dangote Group.
