NUPENG Suspends Strike After DSS-Mediated Agreement
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its nationwide strike following the intervention of the Department of State Services (DSS), which brokered an agreement between the Federal Government, oil industry stakeholders, and organised labour.
The resolution was reached after a high-level meeting in Abuja, attended by key government officials, representatives of Dangote Refinery, and leaders of major trade unions.
Present at the talks were the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi; Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and a Dangote Refinery team led by Alhaji Sayyu Dantata. Labour representatives included Akpouha Williams (NUPENG), Benson Upah (Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC), and Dr. N.A. Toto (Trade Union Congress, TUC).
After hours of negotiations, parties agreed to uphold labour laws guaranteeing workers’ freedom of association, stressing that employees cannot be forced into union membership. Other contentious issues were also addressed, leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by all stakeholders.
The agreement prompted the immediate suspension of the strike, which had posed a threat to fuel supply and distribution nationwide.
Government officials described the outcome as a breakthrough for industrial stability, while labour leaders reiterated their commitment to defending workers’ rights within the framework of the law.
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