The Federal Government has appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to halt its planned strike, scheduled to begin Monday, over its conflict with Dangote Refinery.
On Sunday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, announced that his Ministry has arranged a conciliation meeting to resolve the dispute and prevent escalation. In a statement by Patience Onuobia, Head of Information and Public Relations, Dingyadi confirmed that invitations have been sent to PENGASSAN leadership and Dangote Refinery management for an emergency meeting in his office on Monday.
Dingyadi urged PENGASSAN to cancel the strike to foster a peaceful resolution, emphasizing the petroleum sector’s critical role in Nigeria’s economy. “A strike would lead to significant revenue losses and cause hardship for Nigerians, impacting economic stability and national security,” he said. He assured both parties that the government is committed to resolving the dispute amicably and in the national interest.
PENGASSAN’s Strike Notice
Following an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, PENGASSAN issued a circular directing members to withdraw services nationwide, alleging that Dangote Refinery dismissed Nigerian workers for joining the union, violating Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions. The union further claimed the refinery replaced the sacked workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the action as an “affront” to Nigerian workers. PENGASSAN ordered members in field locations to down tools from Sunday and a nationwide shutdown of offices, companies, and agencies from Monday.
Dangote Refinery’s Response
Dangote Refinery refuted PENGASSAN’s allegations, stating that its recent staff reorganization was necessary to address recurring sabotage incidents that posed safety risks and hampered operational efficiency. In a Friday statement, the management clarified that the exercise was not arbitrary but aimed at safeguarding the refinery and ensuring safety.
“This decision was taken in the best interest of the refinery due to intermittent sabotage cases with dire consequences for human life and safety,” the statement read.
The ongoing dispute between Dangote Refinery and oil and gas unions centers on issues including labour rights, safety standards, and product distribution.
