A dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has been resolved, following a conciliation meeting convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The agreement, reached on Monday, allows employees to unionize voluntarily, in line with existing labor laws, and guarantees that no worker will face victimization as a result of the strike notice.

According to energy expert and petroleum analyst Kelvin Emmanuel, NUPENG and other groups had been attempting to sabotage the operations of the Dangote Refinery by posing obstacles such as regulatory complaints and concerns over product standards. Emmanuel made these allegations while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, arguing that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) was “in competition with Dangote,” and that NUPENG was being used to protect the market share of other marketers.

The labor dispute centered on NUPENG’s efforts to unionize workers at the Dangote Refinery, with the union threatening to go on strike if its demands were not met. However, Emmanuel maintained that Dangote was not opposed to unionization but could not compel employees to join NUPENG, as the law makes union membership voluntary. The agreement reached between the parties has averted the planned strike, and both sides have committed to respecting the rights of employees to choose whether or not to join a union.

The resolution of the dispute is significant, as it allows the Dangote Refinery to continue operating without interruption. The refinery is a major player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, and any disruption to its operations could have had far-reaching consequences for the country’s economy. The agreement also highlights the importance of respecting labor laws and the rights of employees to unionize voluntarily. With the dispute resolved, the Dangote Refinery can now focus on its operations, and the Nigerian government can continue to work towards developing the country’s oil and gas sector.