by Godwin Orozo-
The Federal Government has waded into the industrial dispute between the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Refinery, urging the union to suspend its planned nationwide strike scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2025.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, announced on Sunday that he has summoned both parties to a conciliation meeting in Abuja, warning that any disruption in the petroleum sector would cause serious hardship for Nigerians.
“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,” Dingyadi said in a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Patience Onuobia.
He further appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw the “red alert” it had issued to affiliate unions in solidarity with oil workers.
“The petroleum sector is very important to this country. It constitutes the core of the economy. A strike in the petroleum sector, even for just a day, will have an adverse impact. It will not only lead to revenue losses running into billions of naira but also cause untold hardship for Nigerians,” the minister cautioned.
Dingyadi assured that the government would broker a resolution that satisfies both labour and the refinery management, stressing that “the matter will be resolved amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved.”
The crisis erupted after Dangote Refinery announced plans to import 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retailers from August 15. Though the plan was delayed due to logistics challenges in China, NUPENG accused the refinery of anti-labour practices, particularly the alleged exclusion of new drivers from union membership.
NUPENG, through its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers branch, insisted the policy threatens its members’ jobs. The union had on Friday declared its intention to commence a nationwide strike, a move that prompted the NLC to issue a solidarity “red alert” to all affiliates.
