Efforts by the federal government to avert a strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over alleged anti-union practices at the Dangote refinery ended in deadlock on Monday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the meeting convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, broke down after representatives of the Dangote refinery reportedly walked out.
Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi, who chaired the session, admitted that negotiations stalled.
“We have not been able to reach a final agreement on this matter. Negotiations will continue,” he told journalists. “Maybe by tomorrow, we will resolve the issues. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace as discussions continue.”
He assured Nigerians that the government remained committed to reaching common ground.
But the labour side accused the refinery of deliberately undermining the talks.
“The representative of the Dangote Refinery walked out on the Honourable Minister and Organised Labour. So, there was no agreement,” said Benson Upah, acting general secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“Even when we bent backwards to accommodate his uncompromising behaviour, he still did what he did. So, we are left with no choice than to do the needful. The action continues.”
Upah stressed that labour was open to dialogue but could not negotiate alone.
“It takes more than one party to reach a resolution. Whenever the Dangote Refinery sees the need for genuine dialogue, we are ready, even this night, if they return.”
NUPENG president Williams Akporeha insisted the union’s stance was in the interest of Nigerians, accusing the refinery of denying workers the right to unionise.
