ABUJA — The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called off its nationwide strike following a breakthrough agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals on the contentious issue of workers’ unionisation.
The industrial action, which lasted two days, had led to the shutdown of several fuel stations across the country, sparking concerns of looming fuel scarcity.
NUPENG had accused the Dangote Group of denying its employees the right to join recognised labour unions — a development that triggered the face-off.
At a conciliation meeting convened in Abuja by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, both parties reached a resolution, sealing the terms in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
According to the MoU, the refinery’s management agreed that:
- Unionisation is a right under Nigeria’s labour laws, and employees of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals who wish to join unions are free to do so.
- The process of unionisation will commence immediately and must be concluded within two weeks (September 9–22, 2025).
- The employer will not establish or sponsor any parallel union.
- No employee will face victimisation as a result of the strike action.
The agreement effectively brought an end to the strike, with NUPENG assuring members that the rights of workers would now be protected within the nation’s largest refinery project.
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