The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend their proposed nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday while addressing the ongoing dispute between the two unions and the Dangote Group over employees’ rights to unionise.
Dingyadi disclosed that the ministry had already waded into the matter and initiated mediation efforts aimed at reaching a resolution that would safeguard the rights of workers while ensuring industrial harmony.
He warned that the consequences of a nationwide shutdown, even for a single day, would be dire. According to him, halting petroleum distribution and other critical services could inflict heavy financial losses on the economy and trigger widespread hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
“The Federal Government recognises the legitimacy of workers’ concerns but urges NUPENG and the NLC to embrace dialogue as the pathway to resolving this dispute,” the minister said. “We are committed to protecting workers’ rights while also safeguarding the national interest.”
The planned strike, if carried out, is expected to paralyse key sectors of the economy, particularly fuel supply and distribution networks, raising fears of scarcity and disruption of essential services nationwide.
Officials of both unions are yet to formally respond to the government’s appeal.
