FG–NUPENG Talks Collapse as Strike Enters Day Two

Efforts by the Federal Government to resolve the standoff between NUPENG and the Dangote Group over alleged anti-labour practices ended in failure early Tuesday morning.

The meeting, which began at 5:30pm on Monday after being scheduled for 10am, dragged on for hours but broke up without agreement at 12:03am.

As a result, NUPENG’s strike continues into its second day, while the three-day warning strike declared by the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) also remains in force.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has already placed 43 of its unions on red alert, while PENGASSAN and more than 30 unions affiliated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are maintaining their threats to join the action.

Labour and Employment Minister, Mohammed Dingyadi, released a voice note after the closed-door meeting, confirming that the negotiations had collapsed and warning of a possible energy crisis across the country.

Those at the talks included the two Ministers of Labour, the acting General Secretary of the NLC, the Secretary General of the TUC, the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Aliyu Dantata of MRS Company, representatives of the Dangote Group, and officials from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).