The Federal Government has resolved the industrial dispute between the NUPENG and Dangote Group

Accordingly, a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU)is being drafted for signature by the two parties as Dangote Group has agreed to allow workers at its refinery and petrochemicals operations to join the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

At tonight’s meeting mediated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, as well as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the parties are also considering a two-week timeframe for implementation of the MoU.

Present at the meeting are the national executives of NUPENG and officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Also present is the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ogbugo Ukoha, as well as representatives of the Dangote Group and MRS Petroleum.

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Education, says it is not adopting the newly released curriculum for basic and senior secondary education immediately.

The curriculum was released last week by the federal government ahead of the September back-to-school season across the country.

Ohibaba.com gathered from people who have knowledge about the matter that at a meeting with the Commissioner of Education, school owners raised concerns about what the schemes will be, and the instructional materials, etc.

The source said, “So, the system is not ready for the curriculum because all those trade subjects that are there, they need equipment to work on them and they are not readily available.

So, the Commissioner when asked how do we go about it?, the commissioner said that it’s a projection into the future.

That for the next section, they will adopt it but for this first term, the curriculum won’t work in Lagos State.

That those logistics that will make it to work, such as the scheme of work for the terms, the materials and training of staff, need to be sorted first before the curriculum can be adopted.”

The leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) failed to attend a crucial Federal Government meeting aimed at resolving its dispute with the Dangote Group, as tensions escalate over a planned nationwide strike by oil workers.

The meeting, called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, was set for 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. However, by 2:30 p.m., the meeting had yet to start due to the absence of NUPENG representatives.

On Sunday, the Federal Government appealed to NUPENG to postpone the industrial action, assuring that it had intervened in the dispute. It also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw its “red alert” issued to affiliate unions preparing for a solidarity strike.

An insider noted that even if NUPENG plans to attend the meeting, it won’t be immediate. “They can’t be expected to fly into Abuja and rush into talks the same day. Consultations with NLC leadership and others need to happen first,” the source explained.

The core of the conflict centers on the Dangote Group’s alleged anti-union policy, which NUPENG claims violates workers’ rights. The union insists that no oil worker will be allowed to work at Dangote without union membership, accusing the company of an “anti-worker and anti-union” stance aimed at exploiting refinery employees.

NUPENG officials were still in Lagos on Monday afternoon, coordinating the strike effort. “You don’t wait until a strike is declared before calling for talks,” one union source said, criticizing the government’s delayed response. “The union gave sufficient notice, but the ministry only acted after tensions rose.”

Meanwhile, while journalists awaited the start of the NUPENG meeting, Minister Dingyadi held a separate closed-door session with representatives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The government has yet to announce a new meeting date or confirm if NUPENG will participate at a later time.