The Nigerian government has successfully brokered peace between oil workers and their employer, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, leading to the suspension of the workers’ strike.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which had downed tools on Monday, agreed to call off its industrial action following an understanding reached on Tuesday with the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
The union had embarked on the strike on Monday, 8th September 2025, to protest the company’s policy prohibiting employees from joining registered labour unions.
According to a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs Patience Onuobia, the decision to suspend the strike formed part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties at the end of a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The meeting, which began on Monday at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, continued on Tuesday at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters, with the Minister leading the conciliation process.
At the end of deliberations, it was resolved that Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals would allow its employees to unionise if they so wish. The process of unionisation is to commence immediately and be concluded within two weeks (9th–22nd September 2025), with a firm agreement that the company would not establish any parallel union.
The MoU further stipulated that no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals would be victimised on account of participating in the strike. Both parties are expected to report back to the Minister of Labour and Employment one week after the unionisation process is completed.
The MoU was signed by the Managing Director of Dangote Group, Sayyu Dantata; the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) representative, Benson Upah; the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) representative, O.K. Ukoha; the Trade Union Congress (TUC) representative, Comrade N.A. Toro; Otunba Jibrin (Dangote Group); NUPENG President, Comrade Akporeha Williams; NUPENG General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale; and the Director of Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations, Falonipe Amos, on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Employment.
Minister Dingyadi commended the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, the leadership of NUPENG, NLC, and TUC for their cooperation during the conciliation process. He also expressed appreciation to the Director General of the DSS and his team for their support in achieving a peaceful settlement.
With the truce in place, oil workers are expected to resume their normal duties immediately.