The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Gasoline Staff (NUPENG), on Tuesday, suspended its strike following an settlement with the administration of Dangote Refinery to recognise staff’ rights to unionise.
The settlement was reached at a closed-door assembly convened by the State Safety Service (SSS or DSS) and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The decision was contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on behalf of the administration by Managing Director of Dangote Group, Sayyu Dantata; Ogbugo Ukoha of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Ojimba Jibrin of Dangote Group.
Representatives of labour unions have been Benson Upah for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nuhu Toro for the Commerce Union Congress (TUC), NUPENG President Akporeha Williams, and Normal Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale.
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment was represented by Amos Falonipe, director, Commerce Union Providers & Industrial Relations, who signed on behalf of the minister.
The decision adopted a gathering convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Monday, which resulted in a impasse.
In response to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on the assembly, each events agreed that unionisation is a proper underneath extant labour legal guidelines, and staff of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals who want to unionise could be allowed to take action.
The MoU added that the method of unionisation would start instantly and be accomplished inside two weeks.
“After exhaustive deliberations, the next resolutions have been reached by each events: That since staff’ unionisation is a proper according to the provisions of the extant legal guidelines, the administration of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of staff of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of staff of Petrochemicals, who’re prepared to unionise.
“That the method of unionisation shall start instantly and be accomplished inside two weeks (ninth – twenty second September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer won’t arrange every other union. Arising from the strike discover, no employee or worker of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical might be victimised,” the MoU reads.
IPMAN
Following the settlement, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, additionally suspended its strike motion.
The suspension was contained in an announcement issued by the Western Zone Chairman of IPMAN, Oyewọle Akanni, on Tuesday.
Mr Akanni stated the suspension took impact instantly, including that the choice adopted productive discussions and mutual agreements that addressed points raised by NUPENG over alleged anti-labour and monopolistic practices by Dangote Teams.
“Following productive discussions and compliance by Dangote Group on agitation by NUPENG, now we have determined to name off the strike motion efficient in the present day, 9 Sept. This determination comes after cautious consideration and assurances addressing considerations relating to anti-labour and monopolistic concepts by Dangote Group,” he stated.
Mr Akanni recommended members of IPMAN for his or her unity and solidarity throughout the industrial motion, noting that their efforts have been instrumental in advocating for honest competitors within the downstream oil sector.
He nevertheless, urged entrepreneurs to renew their day by day and operational actions immediately.
The strike
Final week, NUPENG introduced that its members would start a nationwide strike from Monday, 8 September.
The strike was proposed in protest in opposition to what it described as anti-union labour practices, linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Pure Gasoline (CNG) vans by the Dangote Refinery, for direct distribution of petroleum merchandise.
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The strategic programme is a part of Dangote’s broader dedication to eliminating logistics prices, enhancing vitality effectivity, selling sustainability and supporting Nigeria’s financial improvement.
On Sunday, the Nigerian Affiliation of Street Transport Homeowners (NARTO) expressed help for NUPENG in its ongoing wrestle in opposition to the Dangote Group.
NARTO Nationwide President, Othman Yusuf, in an announcement, stated it rejected Dangote’s plan free of charge distribution of petroleum merchandise, citing its unsustainability and potential to eradicate impartial transporters who function over 30,000 vans throughout the nation.
Equally, the NLC backed NUPENG as its president, Joe Ajaero, accused the Dangote Group of “exploiting Nigerian staff whereas disregarding their constitutional rights.”
