The Federal Government on Monday rescheduled its tripartite conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the management of the Dangote Group in a bid to avert a nationwide strike that could disrupt fuel supply and worsen economic instability.
The crucial meeting, initially fixed for 3 p.m. in Abuja, was brought forward to 10 a.m. by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
However, the session could not commence at the new time as NUPENG leaders and several stakeholders were still in Lagos making arrangements to fly into the capital.
A ministry official who spoke to reporters said the dialogue would only commence once all key parties were physically present.
The last-minute change in schedule has raised questions, but government insiders suggested it was aimed at accelerating negotiations before the strike deadline.
At the heart of the impasse is the accusation by NUPENG that the Dangote Refinery and its affiliates are engaging in what the union described as “crude and dangerous anti-union practices.”
According to the union, the refinery has barred drivers of its newly imported compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks—part of a fleet of 4,000 vehicles earmarked for nationwide fuel distribution—from joining recognised oil and gas industry unions.
NUPENG further alleges that the company’s employment structure reflects “indecent labour practices” including some of the lowest wages in the downstream petroleum sector, in violation of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, provisions of the Labour Act, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on freedom of association.
The union insists that the right of workers to freely organise and unionise is non-negotiable, warning that if such practices are allowed to stand, it could set a dangerous precedent across Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has already declared solidarity with NUPENG, threatening that it could join in shutting down Dangote’s $20 billion refinery if management fails to allow employees the freedom to unionise.
In a statement on Sunday, PENGASSAN accused Dangote Industries of resisting unionisation since the refinery’s inception despite “several diplomatic interventions.”
The senior oil workers’ union argued that workers’ rights were essential to ensuring fairness, safety, and dignity in the workplace, adding that the refinery cannot claim to be a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial transformation while undermining basic labour rights.
The dispute comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with fuel supply challenges, high inflation, and a fragile economic recovery.
Any disruption to operations at the Dangote Refinery—which recently began phased production of petroleum products—could trigger severe consequences, including fresh scarcity at filling stations, higher transport costs, and renewed public outcry.
Experts also warn that the refinery, touted as a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy security, could suffer reputational damage if it continues to attract criticism for labour-related disputes instead of being celebrated as a hub of industrial progress.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, is now faced with the task of brokering peace between both sides.
The government is under pressure to protect workers’ rights without jeopardising the refinery’s central role in reducing fuel imports and strengthening Nigeria’s energy independence.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, a senior labour ministry official noted:
“The government cannot afford to allow this matter escalate into a full-blown industrial crisis. Both Dangote Group and the unions are strategic to our economy, and dialogue remains the only sustainable path forward.”
The minister has summoned stakeholders to engage in “frank, constructive dialogue” that would address workers’ concerns while sustaining the refinery’s operations.
As the meeting resumes later today in Abuja, labour analysts believe the outcome could set a landmark precedent for labour relations in Nigeria’s private sector.
If NUPENG secures unionisation rights for refinery workers and tanker drivers, it would reinforce the role of unions in safeguarding fair labour practices across emerging industries.
However, if the dispute drags on without resolution, the risk of nationwide strike action could destabilise fuel supply chains, disrupt businesses, and dampen investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector.
For now, all eyes remain on Abuja as government mediators, union leaders, and Dangote executives gather for a decisive round of negotiations.
Nigerians, already weary of economic hardship, are hoping the dialogue delivers a solution that safeguards both energy stability and workers’ rights.
