By Chidimma Okwara
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has publicly thrown his support behind the planned nationwide strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The strike, scheduled to begin on Monday, September 8, 2025, is a protest against alleged anti-labour practices by the Dangote Group, particularly its.
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The core of the dispute revolves around a policy allegedly instituted by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. NUPENG claims that the company is attempting to force newly recruited drivers for its imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks to sign an undertaking that would bar them from joining any existing trade union in the oil and gas industry.
In a statement released on Sunday, Falana condemned the policy as a direct violation of both national and international laws. He cited several legal instruments that guarantee the fundamental right of workers to freedom of association and the right to organize, including:
- Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria
- Section 12 of the Trade Union Act
- Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act
- International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions
Falana asserted that the Dangote Group’s action is an attempt to “erode the rights of Nigerian workers to unionise” and, in his words, is a form of “modern-day slavery.” He also urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to intervene, citing what he described as the “monopolistic practices” of the Dangote Group.
Government Intervention and Labor’s Stance:
In response to the looming strike, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, has invited all parties—the Dangote Group and NUPENG—to an emergency conciliation meeting. The government is concerned that a strike in the petroleum sector, a vital part of the Nigerian economy, could cause severe disruption and hardship for citizens.
Despite the government’s appeal to suspend the strike, NUPENG has insisted that the industrial action will proceed as planned. The union’s president confirmed that while they would attend the meeting to demonstrate a commitment to dialogue, the strike would not be called off until their grievances are addressed.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also declared its full support for NUPENG’s strike, describing the Dangote Group’s alleged actions as “crude and dangerous.” The NLC has put its affiliate unions on high alert, signaling a potential for a broader national shutdown if the issue is not resolved.
