From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is set to suspend its nationwide strike after the Federal Government brokered peace between the union and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.
The industrial action, which began on Monday, September 29, was triggered by the disengagement of more than 800 workers at the refinery. PENGASSAN had also threatened to halt gas supply to the facility and withdraw services nationwide.
Following two days of conciliation led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, both parties resolved on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Ministry’s Spokesperson Patience Onuobia on Wednesday.
Onuobia said the communique issued after the meeting noted that the disengaged staff will be redeployed to other companies within the Dangote Group without any loss of pay. The agreement also guarantees that no worker will face victimisation for their role in the dispute.
“The Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected,” the communique stated.
The peace deal was reached in the presence of key government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister of State for Labour, and the chief executives of major petroleum industry regulators, alongside security chiefs.
While PENGASSAN maintained that its strike was in response to the “unjust termination” of its members, Dangote Refinery insisted the layoffs were part of an ongoing reorganisation within the company.
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