By Peter Onyekachukwu 
BY Peter Onyekachukwu
The Department of State Services (DSS) has stepped in to end the standoff between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Group, securing a suspension of the nationwide strike that threatened fuel supply and economic stability.
The peace deal was reached on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, where both parties agreed to suspend hostilities over the contentious issue of workers’ unionisation at Dangote Refinery.
Daily Trust gathered that the meeting drew top government officials, including the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi; and Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. The Dangote Refinery delegation was led by Alhaji Sayyu Dantata.
On the labour side, NUPENG’s Akpouha Williams, Benson Upah of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Dr. N.A. Toro of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were in attendance.
The intervention comes barely 24 hours after negotiations between the union and the refinery collapsed, sparking fears of a prolonged industrial crisis.
More details of the agreement are expected in the coming hours.