The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called off its strike after reaching a breakthrough agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery on workers’ rights to unionise.
The resolution came on Tuesday, September 9, during a closed-door meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS) and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, alongside representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The talks ended with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that recognised employees’ freedom to join a union in line with Nigeria’s labour laws.
According to the agreement, the process of unionisation at the refinery and its petrochemical arm will begin immediately and must be concluded between September 9 and 22, 2025.
It was also agreed that management will not attempt to form an alternative union.
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The MoU stated, “That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.
“That the process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th – 22nd September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union.
“Arising from the strike notice, no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical will be victimised.”
With this assurance, NUPENG suspended its strike, noting that both parties will return to the Ministry of Labour for a review one week after the process is finalised.
The MoU was signed by Dangote Group’s Managing Director, Sayyu Dantata, alongside labour leaders Benson Upah of the NLC, N.A. Toro of the TUC, NUPENG President Akporeha Williams, and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale. Amos O. Falonipe signed on behalf of theLabour Minister.