The Federal Government has waded into the growing crisis between the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in a bid to prevent a nationwide strike.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, summoned both parties to an emergency meeting in Abuja today, hoping to broker peace before the strike begins.

NUPENG had accused Dangote of anti-union practices, monopolistic control, and poor labour conditions, alleging that the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector. The union also condemned a controversial new policy barring drivers from joining oil and gas unions, calling it a violation of the Nigerian Constitution, the Labour Act, and international conventions.

“This marks a dangerous road to fascism in industrial relations, where workers are treated as slaves without voice or dignity,” the union stated.

Despite the government’s intervention, NUPENG leaders have instructed members to go ahead with the strike until their demands are fully addressed.

The dispute deepened following the creation of the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), which NUPENG dismissed as a “management-inspired fraud” allegedly backed by Dangote and linked to MRS Energy Limited.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its full weight behind NUPENG, mobilising its 54 affiliates and 36 state councils for nationwide solidarity. NLC President Joe Ajaero described Dangote’s actions as a direct attack on Nigeria’s labour movement.

“An attack on one union is an attack on all. If we allow the Dangote Group to succeed, no industry or worker in Nigeria will be safe. It will set a perilous precedent that capital is above the law,” Ajaero warned.

Already, fuel queues have started appearing across the country as workers and residents brace for disruptions. In Edo State, the NLC advised people to stock up on fuel ahead of the strike, warning that filling stations would shut down once the action begins.

Economists caution that a prolonged shutdown could cripple transportation, power supply, and manufacturing, further worsening inflation and economic hardship.

The outcome of today’s Abuja meeting will determine whether Nigeria faces a full-blown nationwide strike or a last-minute resolution.