The strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) will continue Tuesday after talks with government and Dangote failed.
Negotiations in Abuja ended late Monday after Sayyu Dantata, representing Dangote Group, reportedly walked out on Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi and union leaders.
According to sources at the meeting, Dangote’s team insisted that union membership must remain voluntary, while the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NUPENG demanded free unionisation rights for all refinery workers.
Minister Dingyadi admitted the talks ended in stalemate.
He said discussions were adjourned because it was late, but expressed optimism that progress could still be made in subsequent meetings.
The NLC accused Dangote’s representative of deliberately frustrating negotiations. Acting secretary Benson Upah said the walkout left labour with no option but to continue the strike.
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NUPENG president Williams Akporeha said the union was defending workers against what he described as Dangote’s attempt to “enslave” employees, warning that Nigerians would resist monopolisation.
The NLC earlier issued a “Red Alert” alleging anti-union practices, monopolistic tendencies, and violation of constitutional and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions by Dangote companies.
It demanded immediate unionisation of all Dangote subsidiaries and threatened nationwide solidarity actions if the group fails to comply, accusing regulators of complicity if they remain silent.
The labour body vowed to confront what it called “tyranny” until victory is achieved, urging the Federal Government to check Dangote’s influence over the energy sector and its workforce.
