Title: NUPENG Suspends Strike as Dangote Refinery Agrees to Workers’ Unionisation Date Published: 09 September 2025 Description: The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called off its strike after reaching a landmark agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery to recognise employees’ rights to unionise.The breakthrough came at a closed-door conciliation meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, with the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, top labour leaders, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in attendance.Acting NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, confirmed the outcome, while the Ministry of Labour and Employment announced it would issue a formal statement in the coming days.According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Monday, September 8, 2025, both parties agreed that:Unionisation is a fundamental right under Nigeria’s labour laws, and workers of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals who wish to join NUPENG are free to do so.The unionisation process will begin immediately and must be concluded within two weeks, from September 9 to 22.No worker will be victimised or penalised for participating in union activities.The management will not sponsor or set up a parallel union to undermine NUPENG. In line with these resolutions, NUPENG immediately suspended its strike and is expected to report back to the Labour Minister after the conclusion of the process.The MoU was signed by Dangote Group Managing Director, Sayyu Dantata, and witnessed by O.K. Ukoha (NMDPRA) and Ojimba Jibrin (Dangote Group). Labour unions were represented by Benson Upah (NLC), N.A. Toro (TUC), NUPENG President Akporeha Williams, and NUPENG General Secretary Afolabi Olawale. Amos Falonipe, Director of Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations, signed on behalf of the Labour Minister.The strike was triggered after tanker drivers under NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of hiring new drivers on condition that they avoid union membership. Management dismissed the allegation as “cheap blackmail”.Dangote Refinery, commissioned in 2024, is Africa’s largest with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. While it has significantly reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and lowered pump prices, its dominance has stirred monopoly concerns in the downstream oil sector.During the industrial action, NUPENG drew solidarity from the Nigeria Labour Congress, global union IndustriALL (Switzerland), and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers (ILAW) network (Washington).With the suspension of the strike, all eyes are now on the implementation of the unionisation process over the next two weeks. Attached Images: e1d4b1328f82716378ad244b8dc14d91665e0b384dfe5fdc1feb19ee8f5094c5.jpg, bb4da525423a34676a6c8d84b42aca181e8545fa61361ee8009c3d47c4a8a0ab.jpg Attached Video: None