- NLC Orders Nationwide Strike Mobilisation Against Dangote Group
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Ajaero accuses Dangote of anti-worker practices, labour law violations.
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Unions to set up committees, coordinate nationwide protest strategy.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its affiliate unions to begin full-scale mobilisation for a nationwide strike against the Dangote Group over alleged anti-labour practices.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the directive was issued in an internal memo signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on September 29, 2025. Ajaero accused the conglomerate of leading a “deliberate anti-worker crusade” and disregarding Nigeria’s labour laws, stressing that the period of “pleading and fruitless dialogue” had ended and the time had come for “decisive, collective action.”
In the strongly worded memo, Ajaero said the ongoing disputes with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) were symptoms of what he described as a deeper systemic problem within the Dangote Group.
He alleged that the company had violated Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and breached International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to organise and bargain collectively. He further accused the Group of treating its workers as “plantations of exploitation,” where dignity was sacrificed in the pursuit of profit.
The Congress issued a set of demands to the Dangote Group, including: unconditional respect for workers’ rights to freely join unions, an immediate end to intimidation and victimisation of employees, and full compliance with Nigeria’s labour laws and regulatory institutions.
According to the memo, affiliate unions have been ordered to set up Action Mobilisation Committees within 72 hours and liaise with the NLC National Secretariat to coordinate strategies, logistics, and communication for the planned nationwide action.
Ajaero said the labour movement would no longer tolerate what he described as the Dangote Group’s impunity, accusing regulatory authorities of failing to hold the conglomerate accountable. He vowed that organised labour would resist any further exploitation of Nigerian workers.
“The blood and sweat of Nigerian workers built the Dangote empire; we will not allow it to become a monument to their oppression. Together we stand, and together, we will overcome,” the memo concluded.
