Organised labour unions played a central role in Nigeria’s industrial landscape in 2025, mounting strategic strikes, shutdowns and negotiated truces that reverberated across the economy and national public policy debates, industry analysts and reports say.
The year was marked by high‑profile labour activism that disrupted operations in critical sectors, highlighting the interconnection between labour relations, energy security and economic stability.
Actions by unions representing oil workers, educators, health professionals and civil servants underscored the enduring influence of organised labour on economic operations and governance priorities.
Tensions escalated in September 2025 at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest private refinery, when the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and its affiliate unions protested the dismissal of over 800 Nigerian employees said to be seeking union representation.
The refinery’s management said the layoffs were part of a safety‑oriented reorganisation, denying anti‑labour intent. PENGASSAN responded with a nationwide strike order and halted crude and gas supply to the facility, contributing to disruptions in oil output, power generation and port operations.
Federal Government mediation led to a truce in early October, under which dismissed workers were redeployed without loss of pay and the refinery recognised union rights, prompting PENGASSAN to call off its strike.
The government‑brokered resolution also formalised voluntary unionisation and prohibited employer‑controlled parallel unions, easing tensions after intense negotiations involving the Ministry of Labour, security agencies and labour leadership.
Simultaneously, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) challenged refinery management over the use of imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks and exclusion of members from union coverage.
Threatened nationwide action was suspended following a memorandum of understanding facilitated by government and labour leaders, which reaffirmed union rights and diffused the dispute.
In the education sector, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared a nationwide warning strike in October over funding shortfalls and delayed implementation of agreements with the Federal Government, affecting academic calendars at federal universities.
The strike was lifted after talks and a renegotiated agreement effective January 1, 2026.
Other unions, including the Non‑Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), issued ultimatums and conducted nationwide protests to press their demands, while continued negotiations forestalled protracted shutdowns.
Labour activism in December 2025 shifted focus to national security concerns, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) staged peaceful protests in Abuja, Lagos and other states to demand decisive government action on insecurity, banditry and kidnappings affecting workers and communities.
The NLC warned that violence against peaceful demonstrators could escalate into broader industrial action.
Analysts say the year’s industrial actions and negotiated truces underscored labour’s capacity to influence economic policy and public discourse, even as ongoing inflation, wage pressures and service delivery challenges continued to strain industrial relations.
As Nigeria moves into 2026 and beyond, labour’s organised presence is expected to remain a critical factor in shaping industrial policy, workforce welfare frameworks and the government’s responsiveness to socio‑economic challenges
