The reconciliatory meeting convened by the federal government between Dangote refinery and the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers ended in a stalemate on Monday night after officials of Dangote walked out.
The meeting, which lasted close to seven hours, was attended by the national executives of NUPENG, officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ogbugo Ukoha, as well as representatives of the Dangote Group and MRS Petroleum.
It was co-chaired by the Minister of Labour, Muhammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiru Onyejeocha.
Briefing journalists after the session, spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah, said, “The representative of the Dangote refinery walked out on the minister and organised labour.
“So there was no agreement? No, even when we bent backwards to accommodate his uncompromising behaviour, he still did what he had to do. So we are left with no option but to do the needful. The action continues.”*
NUPENG had earlier announced that it would embark on an industrial action starting September 8, 2025, warning that the strike could trigger nationwide fuel scarcity.
The dispute stems from Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plan to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks for direct distribution of fuel to retailers. Although the rollout, initially scheduled for August 15, was delayed due to logistics challenges in China, the refinery insisted operations would commence once a significant number of the trucks arrived.
In a statement signed on Friday by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union accused the refinery of engaging in anti-labour practices that endangered the jobs of Petroleum Tanker Drivers.
The union further alleged that Aliko Dangote had insisted that drivers recruited for the new trucks would be barred from joining any union. It described the move as an attack on freedom of association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and a violation of international labour conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
NUPENG also recalled that several meetings—held in conjunction with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners—had been ignored by Dangote. Tensions heightened when MRS Petroleum, owned by Dangote’s cousin Sayyu Dantata, reportedly began recruiting drivers for the CNG trucks and compelling them to sign undertakings not to join any oil and gas union.
As a result, the union threatened to halt fuel loading nationwide if the matter remained unresolved, vowing not to watch its members’ jobs eroded.
In response, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, announced on Sunday that he had summoned all parties to a conciliation meeting in Abuja to address the allegations of anti-unionisation at the refinery.
The meeting, originally billed for 10:00 am on Monday, was delayed until past 5:00 pm following the late arrival of union officials.
Sources disclosed that after the labour ministry mediated, a draft Memorandum of Understanding was read for all parties to review and sign.
However, objections by Dangote Group officials to some of the resolutions stalled the process, leaving the talks unresolved.