Downstream oil workers under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) last night failed to reach a peace deal with the management of Dangote Refinery over the unionisation of staff, forcing the union to press ahead with its nationwide industrial action.
The deadlocked talks came after several hours of negotiation brokered by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, which ended without a Memorandum of Understanding being signed.
The strike, which began on Monday, has already disrupted activities in some states, with filling stations shut down and transportation services strained. In solidarity with NUPENG, other key associations in the oil and gas sector—including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Natural Oil & Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN)—announced their decision to join the strike.
NUPENG’s dispute with Dangote Refinery centres on the company’s decision to recruit thousands of drivers for its new fleet of compressed natural gas-powered trucks under conditions that allegedly bar them from joining any existing trade union. The union has argued that allowing such an arrangement would render many of its members redundant and worsen unemployment in the downstream sector.
At the reconciliatory meeting that lasted until 11 p.m., Labour Minister Maigari Dingyadi confirmed the stalemate. “The issue is that we have not been able to reach a final agreement on this matter because we had a stalemate and we are trying to resolve the issues but it was getting late and we had to call off the meeting. We are confident that maybe by tomorrow we will be able to resolve these issues. I want to appeal to everybody to please maintain the peace,” he said.
NUPENG President Williams Akporeha accused Dangote of attempting to enslave Nigerian workers by blocking unionisation. “We cannot stand to see an investor whose main purpose is to enslave Nigerians. It cannot take us back to the dark days of slavery. Nigerians have wished him so well than for him to enslave them. He wants to monopolise the whole system and even the workers, but we say it can’t happen during our time,” he stated.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have both threatened to mobilise nationwide support if the dispute is not resolved. NLC spokesperson Benson Upah accused the Dangote team of arrogance, alleging that its representatives walked out on the minister and organised labour. “So there was no agreement. Even when we bent backwards to his uncompromising behaviour. So we were left with no option than to continue with our strike action,” Upah said.
The TUC further alleged persistent anti-labour practices at the Dangote Group, citing intimidation and harassment of workers, denial of unionisation rights, and attacks on employee dignity. “We put it on record that the labour movement will not fold its arms while Dangote and its companies treat Nigerian workers as slaves in their own country. No employer, no matter how wealthy or powerful, will be allowed to trample on the rights and dignity of labour,” the TUC stated.
In Port Harcourt, PENGASSAN directed its members at Cameron/Onesubsea Offshore Systems Nigeria Ltd to commence an indefinite strike, citing management’s refusal to honour 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. Assistant General Secretary Sere Nwikiabeh said management had rebuffed all genuine efforts, forcing the union to take decisive action.
PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, reaffirmed solidarity with NUPENG, accusing Dangote Refinery of resisting unionisation since inception. “The right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for promoting fair labour practices. We stand firmly in support of NUPENG’s call for the full unionisation of not just Petroleum Tankers Drivers but all employees of the refinery and its allied companies,” he declared.
The situation escalated further as NOGASA, NARTO, and PETROAN formally announced their withdrawal of services in support of NUPENG. NOGASA President Benneth Korie said members were concerned about losing supply opportunities and jobs if Dangote pursued direct end-user distribution. “Given the urgency of this matter, we find ourselves with no other choice but to consider withdrawing our services nationwide in solidarity with NUPENG and other stakeholders if this situation remains unresolved,” he said, appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
NARTO President Yusuf Othman described Dangote’s model as a threat to Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network. “NARTO strongly and unequivocally rejects any plan for free distribution of petroleum products. Such an approach is not only unsustainable but is also a deliberate attempt to undermine and eliminate the thousands of independent transporters who form the backbone of Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network,” he warned.
PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry also cautioned that Dangote’s approach was not sustainable and would damage the downstream sector in the long run.
As the strike gained traction, fuel scarcity spread in states including Delta and Sokoto, where motorists and commuters faced hikes in transport fares. In Delta, stranded school children trekked long distances, while in Sokoto union officials were seen shutting filling stations and halting tankers along major routes. NUPENG also warned marketers in Delta that any station found operating during the strike would face a N1 million fine.
With tensions mounting, organised labour has warned that unless an amicable resolution is reached soon, the strike could escalate further, potentially crippling the oil and gas industry nationwide.
