The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has announced that its members will embark on a nationwide strike starting Monday, September 8, 2025, over alleged anti-union labour practices linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks by Dangote Refinery.

In a statement signed by its National President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union said the development violates workers’ rights and undermines existing trade unions in the oil and gas sector.

NUPENG recalled that on June 14, 2025, Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced plans to import 4,000 CNG trucks—later raised to 10,000—for nationwide distribution of petroleum and diesel products. While initially seen as a welcome investment, the move sparked concerns from stakeholders, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

A meeting held on June 23, 2025, between NUPENG, NARTO, and Dangote’s representative, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, reportedly revealed that the trucks would operate under a new arrangement that excluded existing unions.

The union further alleged that recruitment of drivers for the trucks began on August 29, 2025, with applicants required to sign undertakings not to join unions in the oil and gas industry.

“The recruitment being carried out on the condition of not joining existing unions is a matter of serious concern to us,” NUPENG said. “This violates Nigeria’s Constitution, labour laws, and international conventions on freedom of association.”

The union cited Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, which prohibits penalising workers over union membership, and Nigeria’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 87, which is binding under Section 254C(2) of the Constitution.

NUPENG also urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to exercise its powers under Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to prevent restrictive practices in the petroleum sector.

Having failed to secure a resolution after several engagements with government agencies and stakeholders, NUPENG said it had no choice but to proceed with the strike.

“The strike is not to create hardship but to protect workers’ rights and ensure a fair and competitive downstream petroleum industry,” the statement read.

The union appealed for public understanding and called on other labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to stand in solidarity. It also revealed that members of its Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch had been advised to seek alternative employment or skills training if the dispute persisted.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission has created a dedicated desk to fast-track approvals for insurance sector recapitalisation, pledging to deliver decisions within 14 days of complete submissions.

This was disclosed at the end of the 19th Insurers’ Committee meeting by the Head of the Communication and Stakeholders Management Sub-Committee of the Insurers’ Committee, Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, in Lagos.

President Bola Tinubu recently signed into law the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025, and it included a wide range of reforms, including a substantial increase in minimum capital requirements for insurance companies.

Nwachukwu disclosed that the Director-General of the SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama, made a presentation to the meeting, noting that the concessions being made to the insurance industry were part of the collaboration between the capital market and insurance regulators aimed at transforming the sector.

“There cannot be a better ally to the capital market than the insurance industry,” she said. “He also acknowledged that this is the first time that the collaboration between NAICOM and SEC is happening, and it’s happening in a very strong manner. And he expressed his belief in the industry and his actions to support the recapitalisation process.

“The key thing is, they’ve set up a dedicated desk for insurance companies, and all approvals that the SEC has committed to us are to be granted within 14 days, so long as we submit our applications to raise capital with all the required documents on time,” she added.

According to Nwachukwu, the SEC has given about nine concessions and reduced fees for the insurance sector’s recapitalisation process. Agama was said to have stressed that Nigerian investors were actively seeking new outlets, citing over N3tn raised recently for the banking sector, and urged insurers to position themselves to attract similar inflows.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin, was said to have reminded the industry that recapitalisation under the newly enacted NIIRA Act should not be seen as a mere fund-raising exercise but as an opportunity to restructure, strengthen governance, and rebuild public confidence in the industry.

The regulator has already released draft guidelines on minimum capital requirements, InsurTech, and Takaful operations for industry input. Final guidelines are expected soon, alongside the establishment of a Policyholders’ Protection Fund, which will be managed by an independent audit firm.

Nwachukwu said, “NAICOM has released a draft of minimum capital requirement guidelines, which they require the insurance companies to comment on, and the comments have been sent. These comments will be considered, and the final guidelines will be released by NAICOM as soon as possible. They’ve also issued guidelines on insurtech and issued guidelines on Takaful, basically to just guide the industry in these processes.

“NAICOM also encouraged organisations to begin sending the recapitalisation plans. So, they don’t only want to see the plans of how we plan to recapitalise, but they also want to see how we plan to utilise the funds that we generate before they will approve it.”

She added that NAICOM has pledged to continue to focus on ethical practices and fairness to consumers. The NAICOM boss commended the industry on the major claims paid.

“You know, the industry has had about four massive claims, and all these claims have been paid. He said the payment of this claim has shown our capacity,” she averred. With more than 40 million small and medium enterprises underserved, and health insurance still largely ceded to HMOs, both regulators urged insurers to expand into growth areas while preparing their recapitalisation plans.

“This is not just about raising capital. It is about transforming the insurance industry into a trusted pillar of Nigeria’s financial system,” Nwachukwu emphasised.

The lawmaker representing Eti Osa Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, who doubles as the Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, has empowered 250 residents of the area with N100,000 each, totalling N25m.

Adams, whose stakeholders’ meeting is the 7th in the series, stated at the event, which was held on Thursday at Orchid Hotel, Eleganza, with the Theme: “Governance In Action: The Gains Of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” that the residents of the area believed in him to have sent him to the assembly.

“I thank you all for believing in me and for sending me to the Lagos State House of Assembly. Today, I am called ‘Honourable’ because of your belief in me. I thank you for this and I promise not to ever disappoint you

“Today, I will give out N25m cash as empowerment to 250 persons, as each of them will get N100,000. We will also give out 100 Point of Sale machines to 100 of the beneficiaries of the money today to start a business in that line.

“We are not transferring money to anybody; it will be given out in cash today,” he said.

Also speaking, Senator Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun, representing Lagos Central at the Senate and former deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, revealed that the National Assembly would vote N1bn for the rehabilitation of the Lekki-Epe Expressway and that he would provide books for some students resuming schools in September.

In Lagos, local political leaders have taken empowerment to the grassroots earlier this year.

In February, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 01, Adewale Temitope, empowered 500 widows with cash gifts and food items within his constituency.

The initiative, tagged “A Widows’ Valentine Special,” took place at his constituency office in Ifako-Ijaiye.

On Thursday, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mojisola Meranda, also gave scholarships to some students in tertiary institutions and provided food palliatives to indigent households in the Apapa Constituency 1.

It was reported that the 10th constituency stakeholders meeting was held simultaneously on Thursday in all the 40 constituencies represented at the House, with empowerment being a front-burner.

In his speech delivered across the 40 constituencies in the state, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said this year’s theme, “Governance In Action: The Gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” was carefully chosen to highlight the tangible benefits of governance.

He said that this was in alignment with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu.

“Under the dynamic leadership of President Bola Tinubu, our nation has witnessed an inspiring transformation; a renewal of the national spirit and a reinvention of the Nigerian state.

“Today, I stand before you to celebrate these tangible achievements, to affirm our commitment to good governance and to reaffirm that our Renewed Hope is not merely a slogan, but a call to action and a vision in progress,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Eti Osa East Local Council Development Area, Samson Agunbiade, said a town meeting was a golden opportunity not only to speak, but to seek cooperation of all, saying that no government could solve the people’s problems alone.

In his speech, the Deputy Chairman of Iru LCDA, Murisiq Ajasa, who represented the Chairman, said the council had done much in a month, including community engagement, and had reactivated ward level discussions.

“We have opened discussions on healthcare services for the residents. We have constructed the road on Ajose Adeogun. We have done an environmental cleanup to tackle flooding.

“Residents have asked for a reduction of noise in the area and we have taken action on this. We will keep partnering with the people and corporate organisations. We have created rapid responses for complaints about security,” he said.

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