NUPENG suspends strike, signs MoU with Dangote Petroleum Refinery

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its industrial action after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the private company to recognise oil and gas workers’ rights to unionise

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery to recognise workers’ rights to unionise Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) suspended its industrial action.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had facilitated the meeting between the two parties, which Mr. Wale Edun, Honourable Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, as well as representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC leadership and the Management of Dangote Refinery where they reached the agreement Tuesday during a closed-door meeting, in Abuja, FCT.

Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of NLC, confirmed the outcome and suspension of the strike, while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment said it would issue a formal statement on the latest development soon.

It is recalled that the strike had begun with NUPENG (fuel tanker drivers’ union) Monday after the Union had alleged that Dangote Petroleum Refinery was hiring new drivers on the condition that they would not join NUPENG in the West African country’s oil and gas industry.

The Management of Dangote Refinery, according to report, however, denied the allegation of frustrating the affected workers from exercising their Labour rights, describing it as “cheap blackmail.”

It will also be recalled also that Tuesday’s resolution followed an earlier conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Monday, September 8, after NUPENG threatened to embark on strike over Dangote’s initial refusal to recognise workers’ union rights in the private oil firm.

Present at the meeting are the national executives of NUPENG and officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The signed MoU at the meeting indicated both NUPENG and Dangote Refinery have agreed that unionisation is “a workers’ right” under extant Labour laws, and employees of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, who wish to unionise would be allowed to do so henceforward.

The agreement also stated that the process of unionisation would begin immediately and be completed within two weeks.

It further stated: “After exhaustive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached by both parties:

“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 the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.”

The MoU noted: “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 Petrochemical will be victimized.”

Therefore, in accordance with the new agreement between the two parties, NUPENG has suspended its strike with immediate effect, as parties are expected to report back to the Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment a week after the conclusion of the exercise.

In attendance at the meeting also are officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Dangote Group, among others.

Managing Director Dangote Group, Sayyu Dantata, signed the MoU on behalf of the management, O.K. Ukoha signed for Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) while Ojimba Jibrin signed for the Dangote Group.

Representatives of Labour unions, Benson Upah for Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), N.A. Toro for Trade Union Congress (TUC), NUPENG President Akporeha Williams, and General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale also signed the aggrement.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, represented by Amos Falonipe, Director, Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations, signed on behalf of the Minister.

NUPENG’s strike has secured both domestic and international support from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), global union IndustriALL (Switzerland), and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers (ILAW) network (Washington).