The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its affiliate unions to commence full-scale mobilization for a nationwide strike against what it described as the Dangote Group’s “deliberate anti-worker crusade” and disregard for Nigeria’s labour laws.
The directive was issued in an internal memo signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC President, on Monday, September 29, 2025. Ajaero declared that the era of “pleading and fruitless dialogue” with the conglomerate was over, insisting the time had come for “decisive, collective action.”
According to the memo, the ongoing disputes involving PENGASSAN and NUPENG were only symptoms of a deeper crisis.
“For too long, the Dangote Group has operated like a state within a state, flouting Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, violating ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and treating our labour laws with contempt. Its facilities have become plantations of exploitation where workers’ dignity is deliberately crushed in pursuit of profit for a few.”
The NLC accused the company of union-busting, worker intimidation, and exploitation, while alleging that regulatory authorities had failed to hold it accountable.
The memo warned that organised labour would not be intimidated, adding: “The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with the collective resistance of organised labour. No amount of propaganda or paid agents will stop us from defending workers’ rights, especially in the face of regulatory capture where the state appears to have abdicated its duty to hold this conglomerate accountable.
The blood and sweat of Nigerian workers built the Dangote empire; we will not allow it to become a monument to their oppression. Together we stand! Together, we will overcome!”