The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vowed to sustain its nationwide strike following the collapse of a conciliation meeting with the Dangote refinery convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi.
The meeting ended without resolution as both sides clashed over the unionisation of tanker drivers.
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, said the union had no option but to press on with industrial action after the refinery’s management rejected recognised oil and gas unions and allegedly created a parallel drivers’ association.
He added that Dangote’s representative, Sayyu Dantata, walked out of the talks, describing the company’s posture as dictatorial.
Akporeha stressed that while strikes are a legitimate industrial tool, the union remains open to dialogue, insisting no employer has the right to “enslave workers.”
He dismissed suggestions that NUPENG was trying to sabotage the refinery, noting that the union supports its success but expects it to abide by labour laws.