The Federal Government has urgently called for a meeting today with Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to prevent a nationwide strike that could disrupt fuel supply across the country. The emergency meeting, scheduled for 3 pm at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, was summoned by Minister Muhammadu Dingyadi following escalating tensions between the union and Dangote Refinery over alleged anti-union policies and unfair labour practices.
NUPENG, with full backing from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has directed its members nationwide to commence an indefinite strike today until all grievances are resolved. The union accuses Dangote of promoting policies that suppress workers’ rights, including paying among the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector and forcing drivers to join a management-backed group instead of NUPENG. According to the union, these actions violate Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and international labour conventions.
The controversy intensified after NUPENG revealed that Dangote’s latest recruitment policy bars drivers from joining any oil and gas union, describing the move as a dangerous path that could turn workers into “voiceless slaves.” NUPENG leaders maintain that despite attending the government meeting, the strike will proceed until all issues are fully addressed. They also dismissed a newly formed association, the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), as a management-controlled body created to divide workers and weaken the union’s influence.
The union highlighted that the DTCDA shares the same official address as MRS Energy Limited, linking it directly to the interests of Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Aliko Dangote. This revelation, they argue, proves that the group was created solely to undermine union activities and promote monopolistic practices in the oil and gas transport sector.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a nationwide red alert to its 54 affiliate unions and 36 state councils, urging them to mobilise for solidarity actions. NLC President Joe Ajaero warned that allowing Dangote to enforce anti-union policies would set a dangerous precedent, leaving all Nigerian workers vulnerable. He called on unions to prepare for mass mobilisation, stating that the struggle was for the survival of organised labour and the protection of workers’ dignity.
The planned strike is expected to hit fuel supply chains first, with filling stations bracing for long queues and black market fuel prices already rising. Economic analysts warn that if the dispute is not resolved quickly, it could disrupt transportation, power, and manufacturing sectors, worsening inflation and hardship nationwide.
Edo State’s chapter of the NLC has openly declared its support for the strike. In a statement signed by Comrade Bernard Egwakhide, the state council advised residents to stock up on fuel ahead of the strike, warning that filling stations would remain closed throughout the industrial action.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also backed NUPENG, urging the federal government to compel Dangote Group to respect workers’ rights. Falana described the company’s recruitment policy as unconstitutional and in breach of international labour conventions. He also called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to stop the group’s monopolistic practices, noting that even during colonial times, Nigerian workers fought hard to secure the right to unionise.
As tensions rise, the NLC has vowed to escalate the confrontation if Dangote fails to reverse its policies. The union insists that solidarity among workers remains strong, declaring that the dignity and freedom of Nigerian workers must be protected at all costs. The outcome of today’s emergency meeting will determine whether the looming nationwide strike can be avoided or whether the country faces a prolonged crisis affecting vital sectors of the economy.
