FG Urges NUPENG, NLC to Shelve Planned Strike, Explore Negotiation

The Federal Government has appealed to the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve their planned nationwide strike against the Dangote Group, urging that dialogue remains the most effective way to resolve the dispute.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, said the government was deeply concerned about the looming industrial action scheduled to begin on Monday, September 8, 2025, warning that a disruption in the petroleum sector could cripple the economy and worsen the hardship faced by Nigerians.

“Even a one-day strike in the petroleum industry could cost the country billions of naira and inflict severe suffering on citizens. We are therefore appealing to NUPENG and the NLC to embrace dialogue as the way forward,” Dingyadi stated.

To this end, the Ministry has summoned a conciliation meeting in Abuja on Monday to bring all parties, Dangote Group, NUPENG, and other stakeholders, to the table. The government expressed optimism that the crisis would be amicably resolved.

NUPENG, however, has insisted that it will proceed with the strike, accusing the Dangote Refinery of anti-union practices in its recruitment of CNG truck drivers. The union alleged that applicants were required to sign undertakings not to join any existing union, describing the policy as “modern slavery” and a violation of labour laws.

The NLC has declared full support for NUPENG, condemning the Dangote Group’s labour practices as “crude and dangerous,” while state chapters, including Edo NLC, have also mobilised in solidarity.

Industry stakeholders have raised further concerns. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) threatened to halt fuel lifting and dispensing for three days, warning of the risks of monopoly in the sector. Civil society groups such as the Mass Action Against Economic Saboteurs (MAAES) and the Economic Rights Activists (ERA), however, called for restraint, warning that the strike could hurt ordinary Nigerians more than its intended targets.

With the clock ticking toward the strike deadline, the Federal Government’s intervention will be critical in averting a nationwide fuel crisis and protecting a sector vital to the country’s economic stability.