Dangote, NUPENG Face-Off: Meeting ends in deadlock

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The meeting between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the Dangote Group, convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has ended in a deadlock.The talks, aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute over unionisation and other related issues, failed to produce a consensus on some of NUPENG’s key demands.

Although sources confirmed that the Dangote Group had agreed to allow workers at its refinery and petrochemical plants to join NUPENG, the drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, became the major sticking point.

‘Offensive clauses’

According to insiders, representatives of the Dangote Group allegedly attempted to insert clauses described as “offensive,” which could be invoked against workers in the event of a strike.

The dispute over the MoU led the NUPENG delegation, supported by representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to walk out of the meeting on two occasions.

Roll call

The conciliatory session, which commenced at about 5:05 p.m., had in attendance the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.

The Dangote Group was represented by Sayyu Cantata and Otunba Jibrin, while NUPENG’s delegation was led by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.

The Trade Union Congress, TUC, was represented by its Secretary General, Dr. Nuhu Toro, and Shehu Mohammed, while the NLC team included Benson Upah, Onyeka Chris, Echezona Azuzu, and Opaluwa Simon, among others.

One of the labour leaders who spoke, claimed the Dangote team walked out of the meeting after the Labour team insisted that offensive clauses would not be included in the communique.He said, “So the strike continues.”