FG, NUPENG, DANGOTE, OTHERS MEET OVER LABOUR DISPUTE

The Federal Government on Monday convened a high-stakes meeting in Abuja to douse rising tensions between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group over allegations of anti-labour practices at the company.

The meeting, initially slated for 10 a.m., did not commence until 5:10 p.m. at the Ministry of Labour and Employment headquarters.

Present were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi; Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha; Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC); NUPENG President; and a representative of the Dangote Group. Also in attendance were Aliyu Dantata of MRS Company and top officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Declaring the meeting open, Dingyadi appealed to both parties to exercise restraint and engage constructively, stressing that government’s interest is to ensure industrial harmony in the petroleum sector.

The crisis began after NUPENG accused the Dangote Group of engaging in anti-worker practices, including poor welfare conditions and attempts to undermine unionisation among staff. The union had threatened industrial action if its concerns were not addressed.

The dispute raised concerns across the oil and gas industry, with fears of possible disruptions in petroleum distribution nationwide should the standoff escalate into a strike.

Solidarity for NUPENG has been building, as sister unions and stakeholders in the petroleum sector, including the NLC, TUC, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), have thrown their weight behind the union.

While Monday’s meeting is expected to continue late into the evening, stakeholders are optimistic that government’s intervention could pave the way for an amicable resolution. However, the threat of a nationwide fuel scarcity looms large, as Nigerians watch anxiously for the outcome, fearing the dispute could trigger another round of queues at filling stations and a spike in pump prices.