Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, on Monday moved up a tripartite conciliation meeting aimed at resolving a bitter dispute between the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.
The meeting was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. but was brought forward to 10 a.m.
By 10 a.m., however, NUPENG leaders and other stakeholders were still in Lagos trying to board flights to Abuja.
An official of the Ministry told Vanguard that the meeting could not commence until their arrival.
While it is unknown why the time for the meeting was changed, PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the meeting was aimed at stopping the nationwide industrial strike before it inflicted significant damage on the fragile economy.
NUPENG has accused Dangote and associates of pursuing “crude and dangerous anti-union practices, a monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies,” alleging the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the sector and bars drivers for imported CNG trucks from joining industry unions.
The union says those recruitment conditions violate Section 40 of the Constitution, the Labour Act and International Labour Organisation conventions on freedom of association.
