The Federal Government on Monday rescheduled its tripartite conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as tensions rise over the union’s looming nationwide strike.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, announced that the meeting — originally slated for 3 p.m. — was moved up to 10 a.m. to fast-track dialogue.
However, by 10 a.m., NUPENG leaders and other key stakeholders were still in Lagos attempting to board flights to Abuja, causing a delay in the start of the talks.
A ministry official confirmed to Vanguard that the meeting could not commence until the union representatives arrived in the capital.
The meeting is expected to address NUPENG’s accusations that the Dangote Group and its associates are engaged in “crude and dangerous anti-union practices, a monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies.”
The union has repeatedly alleged that the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector and prohibits drivers of imported CNG trucks from joining industry unions. According to NUPENG, these conditions violate Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Labour Act, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on freedom of association.
The Federal Government is racing against time to avert a nationwide industrial action that could cripple fuel distribution and deepen economic woes across the country.
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