The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called off its strike following an agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery to recognise workers’ rights to unionise.
ICIR reported that the agreement was reached at a closed-door meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS) and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Acting Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) general secretary, Mr Benson Upah, confirmed the outcome, while the ministry of labour said it would issue a formal statement on the decision.
The resolution followed a conciliatory meeting convened by the federal ministry of labour and employment on Monday, September 8, 2025, after NUPENG threatened to embark on strike over the company’s initial refusal to recognise workers’ rights for join existing unions.
According to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed at the meeting, both parties agreed that unionisation is a right under extant labour laws, and employees of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals who wish to unionise would be allowed to do so.
The agreement said the process of unionisation would begin immediately and be completed within two weeks. After exhaustive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached by both parties:
“That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.
“That the process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th – 22nd September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer would not set up any other union.
The notice further said that no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals will be victimised.
In line with the agreement, NUPENG suspended its strike with immediate effect, while both parties are expected to report back to the minister of labour a week after the conclusion of the exercise.
