The meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, to resolve the industrial dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group ended in a stalemate on Monday.
The talks, aimed at addressing disagreements over unionisation and labour rights at Dangote’s refinery and petrochemical facilities, broke down after both sides failed to agree on key issues in the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Although the Dangote Group reportedly accepted that its workers could join NUPENG, the sticking point emerged during the drafting of the MoU. Union leaders accused the Dangote representatives of attempting to insert “offensive clauses” that could be weaponised against workers in the event of industrial action. This led to the NUPENG team, backed by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) officials, staging two walkouts during the session.
The meeting, which began at about 5:05 p.m., was also attended by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The Dangote Group was represented by Sayyu Cantata and Otunba Jibrin, while NUPENG’s delegation was led by President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General, Dr. Nuhu Toro, and Shehu Mohammed also participated, alongside NLC officials Benson Upah, Onyeka Chris, Echezona Azuzu, and Opaluwa Simon.
As of press time, no resolution had been reached, raising fresh concerns about an escalation of the standoff between the oil workers’ union and Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate.
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