The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to reconsider its planned nationwide strike, which is set to begin on September 8, 2025. The dispute centers on the Dangote Group’s policy that allegedly prevents its employees from joining unions in the industry.
Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi said the government has intervened and is calling on all parties to postpone any actions that could disrupt the petroleum sector. He warned that a strike would have severe economic consequences, including significant revenue losses and hardship for Nigerians. Dingyadi has invited all stakeholders to a conciliation meeting on September 8, 2025, and has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw its red alert, which urged affiliate unions to prepare for a nationwide strike in support of NUPENG.
The NLC issued the alert in response to the Dangote Group’s alleged anti‑worker and anti‑union practices. NUPENG announced that its members would cease work and seek alternative employment starting September 8, protesting the Dangote Refinery’s alleged attempts to bar its compressed natural gas (CNG) tanker drivers from affiliating with labor unions. However, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) have refused to join the planned strike.
Human‑rights lawyer Femi Falana has backed NUPENG’s proposed strike, citing the Dangote Group’s policy as a violation of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and several international agreements, including the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between labor unions and employers in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The government’s intervention aims to preserve stability in a sector critical to the country’s economy. As the situation unfolds, the outcome of the conciliation meeting and the potential impact of the strike on the economy and Nigerians remain uncertain.
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