The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in a fierce confrontation with the Dangote Group. In a strongly worded statement dated 6 September 2025, NLC accused Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, of running what it described as a monopolistic, anti-union, and anti-worker business empire that undermines Nigeria’s labour laws, international conventions, and the rights of workers.
The controversy is centred on Dangote Refinery, which was touted as a national game-changer for industrialisation and energy security. Instead, labour leaders allege it has become a flashpoint for poor wages, casualisation, and deliberate union-busting tactics.
The crux of the accusations
According to NLC, the petition from NUPENG exposed “a full-blown declaration of war against the Nigerian working class.” The unions allege that the Dangote Group:
- Pays one of the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector.
- Engages in union-busting by forcing workers into “company unions.”
- Prefers expatriate workers over qualified Nigerians.
- Exploits scarcity to hike petroleum product prices.
Beyond wages and conditions, labour leaders argue that Dangote’s strategy represents “primitive capitalism”, in which monopolistic control is leveraged not for development but for wealth consolidation. The NLC warns that this pattern cement, sugar, flour, and now petroleum products shows a recurring dominance play across Nigeria’s strategic sectors.
Legal and industrial implications
The unions stress that Dangote’s policies violate Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees workers the right to organise and associate freely. They also cite ILO Conventions 87 and 98, ratified by Nigeria in 1960, which enshrine freedom of association and collective bargaining.
NUPENG’s revelation that Dangote allegedly demanded that drivers renounce union membership before employment, according to labour leaders, represents a direct affront to Nigeria’s industrial relations framework. If unchecked, they argue, it could set a dangerous precedent where private capital openly overrides national labour laws.
Economic stakes and social consequences
The refinery, initially hailed as a solution to Nigeria’s fuel import dependency, is now under scrutiny for a different reason: its labour practices and pricing structure. NLC contends that instead of lowering costs, the refinery’s dominance risks exploiting scarcity to inflate fuel prices, worsening poverty and hardship across the country.
For a nation grappling with inflation, currency depreciation, and energy instability, the unions see this as economic sabotage. In their words, “This is not development, it is dispossession.”
Labour’s red alert
In response, the NLC outlined a series of steps, including:
- Condemning Dangote’s anti-union strategies.
- Demanding government intervention and regulatory enforcement.
- Calling for immediate unionisation of all Dangote companies.
- Placing all industrial unions on red alert.
- Supporting NUPENG’s proposed industrial action.
The NLC cautioned the Federal Government and regulatory institutions, especially the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA), against complacency. They warned that history would judge them complicit if they continue to ignore violations in favour of corporate interests.
What lies ahead
Labour experts say this clash could escalate into one of Nigeria’s most consequential industrial disputes in years. If NLC and NUPENG follow through on their threat of nationwide mobilisation, the disruption could ripple far beyond Dangote operations, potentially affecting petroleum distribution, manufacturing supply chains, and even political stability.
For Dangote Group, which has long enjoyed state concessions and policy support, this dispute may become a litmus test of its corporate governance, industrial relations maturity, and social licence to operate.
Bottom line
This unfolding drama is more than a labour dispute. It is a struggle over the soul of industrial relations in Nigeria whether one conglomerate can dictate terms to workers and regulators, or whether collective bargaining and decent work will prevail.
As Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC President, put it:
“If Dangote continues on this reckless anti-union path, we will move beyond words to action. Our solidarity is not negotiable.”