Dangote-NUPENG showdown: Meeting moved forward amid strike tension

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has rescheduled a key tripartite meeting aimed at resolving a dispute between the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The meeting, initially set for 3:00 p.m. on Monday, was moved to 10:00 a.m. in a bid to avert an indefinite nationwide strike by oil workers. However, NUPENG officials and other stakeholders were reportedly still in Lagos at the time, delaying the meeting’s commencement.

NUPENG has accused the Dangote Group of anti-union practices, including low wages, poor working conditions, and barring drivers from joining oil sector unions—actions the union says violate Nigerian labour laws and international conventions.

A Ministry of Labour letter dated 6 September invited all parties to a conciliation meeting in Abuja. Despite this, NUPENG has instructed members nationwide to begin an indefinite strike pending resolution of the matter.

The situation remains tense, with potential implications for fuel supply and economic stability.