The Ministry of Labour and Employment has taken emergency measures to prevent a nationwide strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in response to a dispute with the Dangote Group. The Ministry rescheduled a key tripartite meeting to an earlier time in an attempt to get all parties to the table before the strike, which was set to begin today, could take full effect. NUPENG has accused the Dangote Group of engaging in “anti-union practices” by allegedly imposing a condition that drivers of newly imported gas trucks must not join any oil and gas union. The union claims this violates the Nigerian constitution and international labour laws.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced its full support for NUPENG, calling on the federal government to ensure that Dangote Group and its associates comply with all national and international labour laws. In a statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the company’s alleged practices, describing them as an “attack on the Nigerian working class” and a “monopolistic agenda.” The NLC has put its members on alert, signaling its readiness to take solidarity action if the dispute is not resolved. The union leaders, however, have directed their members to proceed with the indefinite strike as their grievances with the Dangote Group have not been resolved.
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