The Nigerian government has asked the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to halt its planned nationwide strike over the ongoing dispute with Dangote Refinery.

Muhammad Dingyadi, the Minister of Labour and Employment, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to a statement by Patience Onuobia, the ministry’s spokesperson, Dingyadi appealed to NUPENG to rescind its planned shutdown of petroleum operations on Monday, September 8, 2025.

The government stressed that the petroleum sector is critical to the Nigerian economy.

Recall that NUPENG directed its members to down tools over alleged anti-labour activities by Dangote Refinery last week.

In an update on Sunday, the union insisted on the strike action, accusing Dangote Refinery of planning to enslave Nigerian workers.

However, in more recent developments, Dingyadi intervened, calling for a meeting between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery on Monday.

The minister further urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to withdraw the “red alert” it issued in solidarity with oil workers under NUPENG.

“I invited all the parties for a conciliation meeting tomorrow, Monday, September 8, 2025. Since I have intervened, I plead with NUPENG to rescind their decision to shut down the petroleum sector from tomorrow.

“I also appeal to the NLC to withdraw the red alert it issued to its affiliate unions to be on standby for a nationwide strike,” Dingyadi said.

The National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, confirmed the scheduled meeting with the Federal Government to the media

He, however, maintained that the strike would proceed while its members met with the government and Dangote Refinery.

“The meeting is taking place tomorrow at 3 pm; we hope the issue will be addressed,” he said.

He stressed that NUPENG would not bow to pressure from capitalists who want to subject Nigerian workers to slavery.

Meanwhile, the Rights for Human Dignity and Justice, RHDAJ, group has called on Nigerian security agencies to arrest the leaders of NUPENG over an alleged plot to burn imported Compressed Natural Gas trucks belonging to Dangote Refinery.

However, Akporeha dismissed the claim as false and propaganda allegedly sponsored by Dangote Refinery.

“It’s mere propaganda sponsored by Dangote Refinery,” he said in an interview on Sunday.