A marathon meeting called by the Federal Government to avert a strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over alleged anti-union practices at Dangote Refinery ended without resolution.
The emergency meeting, held Monday in Abuja and facilitated by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, aimed to address NUPENG’s grievances but collapsed after representatives of Dangote Refinery reportedly walked out.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, who chaired the talks, described progress as slow but vowed to continue negotiations.
“We haven’t reached a final agreement, but discussions will resume, possibly tomorrow. I urge all parties to maintain peace,” Dingyadi told journalists, reaffirming the government’s commitment to finding a resolution.
Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), accused Dangote’s representatives of undermining the process.
“They walked out on the Minister and Organized Labour, leaving no agreement. Despite our efforts to accommodate them, they remained uncompromising.
The strike continues,” Upah said, adding that Labour remains open to dialogue but stressed that “it takes more than one party to resolve a dispute.”
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, accused Dangote Refinery of suppressing workers’ rights to unionize while seeking to dominate Nigeria’s energy sector. “We cannot allow an investor to enslave Nigerians. Dangote cannot take us back to the dark days of slavery,” Akporeha said, emphasizing that NUPENG’s actions are in the interest of Nigerians.
He further criticized the refinery for denying employees union rights, stating, “Nigerians have supported him, but he cannot monopolize workers and the system.”
As tensions persist, Labour remains open to renewed talks if Dangote Refinery engages in good faith.
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