The year 2025 was marked by significant industrial actions by organised labour that reverberated across Nigeria’s economy and public policy landscape, with strikes, shutdowns and negotiated truces emerging as defining features of labour–government relations, Vanguard News reported.
The actions involved strategic shutdowns in critical sectors, intense negotiations, and federal interventions that underscored the influence of labour in national affairs.
One of the most prominent episodes occurred in September 2025, when the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and other unions confronted the Dangote Petroleum Refinery following the dismissal of more than 800 unionised workers.
PENGASSAN said the layoffs were in retaliation for unionisation efforts, while Dangote management described them as necessary for reorganisation and safety, denying anti‑labour intent.
The union’s response was to launch a nationwide strike that threatened operations at key energy institutions and regulatory bodies, prompting concerns about fuel supply, crude oil output and broader impacts on economic activity. Observers warned that if the dispute deepened, it could disrupt regional trade and fuel distribution networks.
Federal Government intervention became necessary amid growing economic pressures. Through mediation involving government representatives and the Ministry of Labour, talks led to a truce in early October in which dismissed workers were redeployed without loss of pay and Dangote formally recognised unionisation rights.
This outcome allowed the strike to be formally suspended and highlighted the role of negotiated settlements in averting prolonged economic disruption.
Alongside the oil sector dispute, other labour threats and actions shaped the industrial landscape.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) raised concerns over union representation and job displacement tied to imported Compressed Natural Gas logistics at the same refinery, threatening a shutdown that was later paused through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) negotiated with labour, government and security agencies.
The backdrop to these clashes included broader debates about government efforts to regulate industrial action. In August 2025, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) criticised elements of the National Industrial Relations Policy, including perceived attempts to criminalise strike actions, asserting that such clauses would undermine constitutional labour rights.
Analysts say the series of actions in 2025 — from threats of shutdowns to negotiated truces — demonstrated the enduring influence of organised labour on Nigeria’s socio‑economic environment.
Labour’s ability to mobilise across sectors not only affected production and services but also reinforced labour’s role as a key stakeholder in shaping labour law, employment rights and policy responses.
The interplay of industrial actions and government engagement in 2025 underscores the need for sustainable industrial relations frameworks, proactive labour‑government dialogue, and robust mechanisms to resolve disputes without prolonged economic disruption.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, labour relations will remain a central element of governance and economic stability.
Stakeholders anticipate further discussions between labour unions, the Federal Government and private sector employers to build on truce agreements, refine labour policy and ensure effective dispute resolution to prevent future large‑scale shutdowns.
