9.9.2025
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its nationwide strike following an agreement reached with the Dangote Refinery union activities.
This was after the Minister of Labour Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi brokered a deal between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery contentious issue of workers’ unionisation. NUPENG had embarked on a strike on Monday after Dangote Refinery refused to allow workers to join the Union.
At a conciliation meeting convened in Abuja by Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
According to the resolutions, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to allow willing employees to join registered unions.
The unionisation process is to commence immediately and conclude within two weeks, between September 9 and September 22, 2025.
The agreement also provides that no worker will be penalised for participating in the strike.
The MoU read: “That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.
“That the process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th–22nd September 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union.
“Arising from the strike notice, no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals will be victimised.”
The agreement was signed by representatives of the Dangote Group, NUPENG, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Agreement...NUPENG and Dangote representatives.