Abuja, Sept. 13 — The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the management of Dangote Refinery have reached a fresh settlement after intervention by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja on Friday, easing fears of renewed industrial action.
Top sources told reporters that the DSS meeting secured a two-week window during which both parties agreed to maintain the status quo while the process of unionisation begins.
NUPENG had suspended its strike on Tuesday following an earlier agreement, which recognised refinery workers’ rights to unionise. The deal, signed after closed-door talks convened by the DSS and attended by Finance Minister Wale Edun and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) representatives, was nearly derailed 48 hours later when the union accused management of reneging on commitments.
In a statement, NUPENG warned it might resume the strike, putting its members on “red alert” and urging solidarity from labour allies. However, Friday’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirmed unionisation as a legal right under Nigeria’s labour laws, with the process scheduled to commence immediately and conclude between September 9 and 22, 2025. The MoU also bars the employer from creating a parallel union and guarantees that no worker will be victimised.
The agreement was signed by Dangote Group Managing Director Sayyu Dantata, representatives of the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and NUPENG officials. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, represented by Director Amos Falonipe, also signed on behalf of the minister.
The dispute had raised concerns of a looming fuel scarcity, as petrol remains critical to businesses and households across Nigeria. Labour leaders say the truce is a temporary reprieve while implementation of the agreement is monitored.
