Staff members of Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) suspended work nationwide on Monday, shutting both the commission’s headquarters and field offices amid a dispute with management over where certain training should take place. The stoppage followed what were described as failed negotiations focused on overseas capacity-building opportunities, with workers arguing against a management push for training to be carried out locally.
Shutdown triggered by dispute over overseas training
According to an anonymously speaking staff member, NUPRC employees moved to stop operations across the country after disagreements over foreign training programmes. The worker said the decision to halt activities was driven by management’s preference to prioritise domestic training over international training and capacity-building.
- NUPRC staff shut down operations nationwide, including the headquarters and field offices.
- The immediate trigger was a breakdown in negotiations tied to overseas training opportunities.
- Management’s stance favoured local training programmes rather than foreign training initiatives.
- The commission’s argument for local training was that it could lower costs while strengthening Nigeria-based institutional capacity.
Focus on locally run programmes, including meter acceptance tests
The staff member said management also insisted that specific training—such as modules connected to Factory Acceptance Tests for Positive Displacement (PD) Meters—be conducted within Nigeria instead of abroad. The worker added that employees rejected this requirement, which contributed to the strike.
- Management insisted that training, including that tied to Factory Acceptance Tests for Positive Displacement (PD) Meters, should occur locally.
- Employees rejected the proposal, and the rejection helped lead to the industrial action.
NUPRC says oil and gas output is not affected, but production risk remains
While the strike was described as indefinite, NUPRC sought to reassure stakeholders that Nigeria’s oil and gas production would continue without disruption. The commission stated that output remains unaffected despite the work stoppage.
Eniola Akinkuotu, head of media and strategic communications at NUPRC, also addressed concerns, saying the disruption was confined to some administrative activities and did not extend to operations at oil and gas facilities or overall production.
- NUPRC assured stakeholders that production in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is unaffected despite the indefinite strike.
- Akinkuotu said the impact was limited to certain administrative functions.
- Akinkuotu added that activities at oil and gas facilities, as well as production in general, were not impacted.
Production context and potential longer-term implications
Separately, Nigeria’s average daily crude oil output reportedly increased to 1.49 million barrels per day in April 2026. Even with NUPRC’s management assurances, the strike could still pose a risk to crude production if it persists, particularly if administrative and regulatory functions continue to be disrupted for an extended period.
- Reportedly, Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production rose to 1.49 million barrels per day in April 2026.
- If the strike continues, it may affect the country’s crude production despite the commission’s assurances.
