The Nigerian government is stepping up action to avert a looming industrial action by the oil workers in the country.
The workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, had issued a strike alert over some unresolved labour issues between it and the Dangote Group, a privately owned refinery company in Nigeria.
According to the oil workers, their grievances bordered on the company’s policy against unionisation by its employees.
Nigeria has enjoyed an uninterrupted fuel supply chain for some time now, thanks to the industrial harmony between the government and various oil workers’ unions.
To nip the situation in the bud, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, has convened a meeting of NUPENG, the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for Monday, 8th September 2025.
Over the weekend, the federal government, in a statement, appealed to NUPENG to shelve the planned strike scheduled to start on Monday, 8th September, promising that the government will do all within its powers to ensure a peaceful settlement.
PRESS RELEASE
FG URGES NUPENG TO SHELVE PLANNED STRIKE OVER DISPUTE WITH DANGOTE GROUP
The Federal Government has appealed to the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to reconsider their stance on commencing a nationwide industrial action from Monday,…
— Federal Ministry of Labour (@LabourMinNG) September 7, 2025
The minister also pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress to withdraw the red alert it issued to its affiliate unions to be on standby for a nationwide strike in solidarity with the petroleum workers.
He said that since his ministry has intervened in the matter, the unions should shelve their plan of shutting down the petroleum industry, with a view to maintaining peace.
“I have invited all the parties for a conciliation meeting tomorrow, Monday, September 8, 2025.
“Since I have intervened, I plead with NUPENG to rescind their decision to shut down the petroleum sector from tomorrow. I also appeal to the NLC to withdraw the red alert it issued to its affiliate unions to be on standby for a nationwide strike in solidarity with NUPENG.
“The petroleum sector is very important to this country. It constitutes the core of the country’s economy.
“A strike in the petroleum sector, even for just a day, will have an adverse consequential impact on the economy. It will not only lead to heavy revenue losses by the country, running into billions of Naira, but also cause untold hardship and difficulties for Nigerians.
“Hence, I plead with the unions to give peace a chance. I assure them that this matter will be resolved amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved,” Dingyadi said.
The minister also assured Nigerians that the dispute will be resolved harmoniously to ensure that no disruption occurs in the petroleum sector.