Talks between the Federal Government, NUPENG, and the Dangote Group ended in a deadlock on Monday night.. Talks that were meant to settle industrial disputes regarding workers’ rights and the distribution of fuel across the country ended with failure to reach any agreement.
“The government is hoping one way or the other to reconcile both sides,” said Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi and neither NUPENG or the Dangote Group release any statements post-meeting.
Meanwhile, NUPENG’s strike is now fully effective. Tank farms and several filling stations in Lagos and Warri ceased operations, and there were long queues. Transport fares increased over twenty percent in Warri, which had an immediate impact on road transportation.
In Abuja, fuel pump prices were priced at approximately ₦885 to ₦910 per litre in some filling stations and others selling fuel at ₦950, some filling stations had even run out of fuel entirely.
At this point, it looks like the crisis is spreading. Other industry unions including NOGASA, NARTO, PETROAN, and PENGASSAN are all threatening to follow suit if nothing changes in the industry.
At the centre of the disputes is a claim from NUPENG that Dangote is engaging in the recruitment of drivers from its fleet for CNG fuel while putting them under strict conditions while also denying them proper workers’ rights to join a union.
The Dangote Group has however, since denied any wrongdoing and labelled its organization an entity that operates within the law and also respects the rights of worker unions.
Stakeholders such as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and a few others have since called for urgent and immediate dialogue suggesting that if the parties are unable to resolve their differences and reach common ground, it will lead to a situation where most Nigerians will face harsh economy situation including transportation costs.
The failure of the talks will burden millions of citizens. Unless the various parties return to the negotiation table soon, it appears that this situation will escalate into a major fuel crisis across the country.
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