Efforts by the Federal Government to mediate a growing labour dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group ended without resolution on Monday, raising fears of a looming fuel crisis.
The closed-door meeting, held in Abuja, was led by Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, alongside Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha. The meeting was convened in a last-minute effort to halt the industrial action threatened by NUPENG, which began enforcing a nationwide shutdown of fuel loading operations on Monday, September 9.
Those present at the high-stakes meeting included national leaders of NUPENG, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Also in attendance were officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), including Executive Director Ogbugo Ukoha, as well as representatives of the Dangote Group and MRS Petroleum.
Despite several hours of negotiation, talks broke down without agreement, prompting concerns over the economic and social fallout of prolonged fuel supply disruption.
At the centre of the dispute is NUPENG’s allegation that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has adopted policies aimed at preventing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanker drivers from joining trade unions, a move the labour unions have condemned as a violation of workers’ rights.
While some transport groups, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), have distanced themselves from the strike, NUPENG reaffirmed its commitment to proceed with the action, saying the issue goes beyond industry politics and speaks to fundamental labour rights.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, Minister Dingyadi had urged the union to suspend the strike, warning of its potential economic impact.
“The petroleum sector is very important to this country. A strike, even for just a day, will lead to heavy revenue losses running into billions of naira and cause untold hardship for Nigerians,” he said.
He also appealed to the NLC to withdraw its “red alert” directive issued to affiliated unions, which was seen as a signal for broader solidarity protests.
Despite these appeals, NUPENG insists it will not back down until the Dangote Group changes its position on workers’ union rights.
Falana, FG Officials Weigh In
Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has thrown his weight behind NUPENG, describing the Dangote Group’s actions as unconstitutional and illegal. Citing Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, Section 12 of the Trade Union Act, and international labour conventions, Falana said workers have a right to freely associate and bargain collectively.
“The policy contravenes multiple legal provisions, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and ILO conventions Nigeria has ratified,” Falana stated.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaq Salako, has expressed concern over the potential fallout of the strike on the country’s healthcare system.
