Hours of negotiations brokered by the Federal Government to end the strike action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against Dangote Refinery have broken down without resolution.
The emergency talks, convened late Monday by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, were aimed at addressing accusations of anti-union practices leveled against the refinery. However, discussions stalled after representatives of Dangote Refinery reportedly staged a walkout.
Labour Minister, Muhammad Dingyadi, who chaired the session, admitted to journalists that little progress had been made.
“We have not been able to reach final agreement on this matter. Negotiations will continue.
“Maybe by tomorrow, we will resolve the issues. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace as discussions continue,” he said, assuring that the government remained committed to finding common ground.
But labour leaders expressed frustration at the breakdown. Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Benson Upah, accused the company’s team of deliberately derailing talks.
“The representative of the Dangote Refinery walked out on the Honourable Minister and Organised Labour. So, there was no agreement.
“Even, when we bent backwards to accommodate his uncompromising behaviour, he still did what he did.
“So, we are left with no choice than to do the needful. The action continues,” Upah said.
He emphasized that workers were open to dialogue but could not negotiate in isolation.
“It takes more than one party to reach a resolution.
“Whenever the Dangote Refinery sees the need for genuine dialogue, we are ready, even this night, if they return,” he added.
NUPENG President, Mr. Williams Akporeha, went further, accusing Dangote Refinery of attempting to curtail workers’ rights while consolidating its dominance in Nigeria’s energy sector.
“We cannot stand an investor whose main purpose is to enslave Nigerians.
“Dangote cannot take us back to the dark days of slavery,” he said.
Akporeha insisted that employees had been denied the right to unionise.
“Nigerians have wished him well. He should not enslave them.
“He wants to monopolise the entire system and even the workers. This, we say, No to,” he declared.
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