BREAKING: NUPENG Suspends Nationwide Strike After Deal With Dangote Refinery

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its nationwide strike following an agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery on workers’ rights to unionise.

The breakthrough was reached during a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, convened by the Department of State Services (DSS). The meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other key stakeholders.

Acting NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, confirmed the outcome, while the Ministry of Labour announced it would release a formal statement shortly.

Strike Disrupted Fuel Supply Nationwide

The strike, which began on Monday, had already crippled fuel distribution across several states, with many filling stations shutting their doors to customers on Tuesday. Long queues formed in major cities as motorists rushed to secure available supplies.

Terms of the Agreement

At the conciliation meeting chaired by the Minister of Labour, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU included the following resolutions:

Recognition of Union Rights: Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees willing to join NUPENG.

Timeline: The process of unionisation will begin immediately and must be completed between 9th–22nd September, 2025.

No Parallel Union: The employer agreed not to establish any alternative union.

Protection Against Victimisation: No worker will face retaliation for participating in the strike or the unionisation process.

With this agreement in place, NUPENG announced the suspension of its industrial action, bringing relief to businesses and citizens affected by the fuel supply disruption.

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