The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have called off their nationwide strike following a resolution mediated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and key government officials.
The industrial action, which began on Monday, was suspended after a high-level meeting in Abuja involving stakeholders from the government, Dangote Refinery, and organized labor.
The strike, initiated by NUPENG to protest the alleged refusal of Dangote Refinery to allow its workers to join the union, had raised concerns about potential fuel scarcity across Nigeria.
PETROAN joined the action in solidarity, halting petroleum dispensing at retail outlets nationwide.
The strike led to fuel price hikes in several states, with prices reaching N1,500 per liter in Calabar, Cross River State, and N1,200 in Ebonyi, alongside panic-buying by motorists in Rivers State and other regions.
The breakthrough came after a two-day conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, with participation from the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; the Executive Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The Dangote Refinery delegation was led by Group Managing Director, Sayyu Dantata.
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that addressed the contentious issues.
Dangote Refinery agreed to uphold workers’ rights to unionization, stating that employees are free to join unions without interference, in line with Nigerian labor laws.
The MoU stipulated that the unionization process must be completed between September 9 and 22, 2025, and that no employer-sponsored or alternative unions, such as the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), would be created.
The DTCDA, previously formed by Dangote Refinery, was declared illegal by the Ministry of Labour and ordered disbanded. Additionally, no worker will face victimization for participating in the strike or supporting unionization.
NUPENG President Williams Akporeha confirmed the resolution of all contentious issues, noting that tankers had resumed loading petroleum products immediately after the agreement.
PETROAN’s National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, commended members for their full compliance with the strike and directed them to resume dispensing fuel nationwide, assuring the public of a return to normalcy in the petroleum sector.
PETROAN also apologized for the disruptions caused by the brief strike, acknowledging the hardships faced by Nigerians.
The MoU was signed by representatives from Dangote Refinery (Sayyu Dantata and Otunba Jibrin), NUPENG (Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale), NLC (Benson Upah), TUC (Nuhu Toro), NMDPRA (O.K. Ukoha), and the Ministry of Labour (Falonipe Amos).
Government officials described the agreement as a significant step toward industrial harmony, while labor leaders emphasized their commitment to protecting workers’ rights.
The resolution has alleviated fears of prolonged fuel scarcity, and stakeholders, including the DSS, the Inspector-General of Police, and the involved ministers, were commended for their roles in facilitating the truce.
