NUPENG
PicNews
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its nationwide strike after reaching a landmark agreement with Dangote Refinery to allow its workers to unionize. The breakthrough came after a high-level meeting involving representatives of the Federal Government, Organised Labour, and the Dangote Group, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 9, 2025.
According to the agreement, the unionization process will begin immediately and be completed within two weeks, from September 9 to September 22, 2025. The employer has also agreed not to set up any other union, and no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals will be victimized for participating in the strike or supporting unionization. Both parties will report back to the Minister of Labour a week after the process concludes to provide updates on compliance with the agreement.
NUPENG described the development as a “milestone for workers’ rights in Nigeria” and pledged to closely monitor implementation to ensure that the agreement translates into meaningful protections for refinery employees. The Federal Government welcomed the decision, noting that the compromise had averted what could have been a major disruption to the nation’s economy.
The dispute began when NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of engaging in anti-union practices and attempting to bar its 4,000 newly recruited truck drivers from joining the union. The union argued that non-unionized drivers would risk job insecurity and render existing members redundant. After a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, both parties reached a mutually acceptable agreement, averting a potentially major disruption to the nation’s economy.
The agreement was signed by representatives of the Dangote Group, NUPENG, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Sayyu Dantata, Managing Director of Dangote Group, stated that the management is not averse to unionization and will abide by the provisions of the law, ensuring employees who wish to join unions are free to do so without interference.
The suspension of the strike has brought relief to many Nigerians who were bracing for a potential fuel scarcity. The strike had caused a shutdown of depots across the country, leading to long queues and rising fuel prices in some areas. With the agreement in place, fuel loading has resumed, and petroleum products are once again being distributed to retailers.
