The Federal Government’s last-minute attempt to avert a nationwide shutdown of the petroleum sector has hit a deadlock, as talks between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group failed to produce a resolution on Monday.
The closed-door conciliation meeting was chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, alongside his junior minister, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, in Abuja. Present were executives of NUPENG, officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), representatives of the Dangote Group, MRS Petroleum, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Despite appeals from government officials to suspend the strike scheduled for September 8, 2025, NUPENG maintained its position, accusing the Dangote refinery of engaging in anti-union labour practices by barring newly recruited compressed natural gas (CNG) truck drivers from joining unions.
In a statement before the talks, Minister Dingyadi warned that a strike in the petroleum sector would cripple the economy, trigger fuel scarcity, and inflict hardship on Nigerians. He urged NUPENG to “rescind their decision” and asked the NLC to withdraw its red alert to affiliate unions preparing for solidarity action.
“The petroleum sector constitutes the core of the economy. A strike, even for one day, will have an adverse impact, leading to revenue losses running into billions of naira and untold hardship for Nigerians,” Dingyadi said.
But NUPENG executives, backed by labour leaders, refused to shift ground. The union insisted that unless the Dangote Group reversed its policy, its members would halt fuel loading operations nationwide.
Falana Weighs In
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) backed NUPENG, describing Dangote’s policy as unconstitutional and illegal. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, Section 12 of the Trade Union Act, and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, stressing that the policy also violated ILO conventions and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Falana urged the Federal Government to compel the refinery to respect workers’ rights, warning that failure to do so could destabilize the labour environment.
Health Sector on Edge
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Isaq Salako, warned that the strike would have devastating effects on hospitals nationwide.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Salako said Nigerian hospitals remain 65–80% reliant on diesel and petrol generators, and fuel shortages would severely affect service delivery.
“A strike by NUPENG will obviously affect the health sector… you don’t want hospitals plunged into darkness at this critical time,” he said, appealing for restraint from both sides.
With the Abuja meeting failing to produce a compromise, the stage is set for a nationwide disruption of petroleum supply. Analysts warn that unless urgent concessions are reached, Nigerians should brace for fuel scarcity, longer queues, and possible price hikes in the days ahead.
More updates to follow as the situation unfolds.
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