Fresh Twist as PENGASSAN Rejects Reports of Strike Suspension Deal With Dangote

The Nigerian Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) has stated that it did not sign the federal government’s announcement that its statewide strike against Dangote Refinery would be suspended.
After government involvement, the union reportedly terminated its industrial action on Wednesday, October 1. However, it emphasized that its concerns over the welfare of over 800 laid-off workers were not entirely addressed.

PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo clarified that the statement issued following the negotiations was not an agreement between the parties during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, October 2.

“As you can see, we did not sign that communiqué. Typically, three people are expected to sign it. Osifo stated, “We felt that some things in it were not okay with us, so we did not sign.”

He explained that the Minister of Labour and Employment, who served as the primary mediator in the case, was the only one who sent the communication.

The union demands that workers be reinstated.
Osifo stated that the reinstatement of the disengaged employees was the main component of PENGASSAN’s demand.

“Dangote’s claim that workers were undermining the economy was completely untrue. Those 800 people would not have been able to find employment in the future if we had permitted the sabotage tag to remain in place. That stigma would never go away. It was a huge victory to clear that, he remarked.

The union official brushed aside claims that PENGASSAN’s battle was over check-off dues, emphasizing that the organization’s top goal was to enable its members to go back to work and support their families.

“We have a clear stance: return the personnel to the refinery. We only asked for that,” he emphasized.

According to reports, the strike, which started on Sunday, paralyzed parts of the oil and gas sector. Union members were heard shouting solidarity songs as they blocked the NNPC headquarters and other regulatory bodies in Abuja.

The Federal Government acted swiftly, with late-night negotiations mediated by the National Security Advisor and Mohammed Dingyadi, the Minister of Labor.

Over 800 disengaged staff would be relocated inside Dangote Group entities without losing their jobs, Dingyadi revealed at the conclusion of the negotiations.

“Workers have a legal right to unionize,” the minister declared. “No employee will suffer harm as a result of taking part in the conflict.”

Dangote refutes Misconduct
However, Dangote Refinery denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the reorganization was required for efficiency and safety.

The business clarified that only a small portion of its 3,000 Nigerian workers were impacted.

The business went on to say that “no law gives PENGASSAN the right to cut off supplies,” cautioning that the union’s actions would jeopardize the country’s fuel supply and earnings.

Courts also became involved in the industrial face-off. A seven-day interim order prohibiting PENGASSAN from carrying on with its strike was issued by the National Industrial Court, which is seated in Abuja.

Judge Emmanuel Subilim scheduled the case for October 13 after ruling that further interruption would result in irreversible harm.

Osifo cautioned that if Dangote did not uphold the resolutions, the union was prepared to immediately continue the strike in spite of the injunction.

“Our tools are always ready if Dangote fails to take the necessary action. We will never get weary of fighting for justice. Prior to the Dangote Refinery becoming online, we were in operation for fifty years,” he said.

Recall that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) backed PENGASSAN as well, accusing Dangote of substituting foreigners for Nigerians.

Nuhu Toro, the TUC Secretary-General, declared: “We are completely in sympathy with the impacted workers. No company shall be permitted to violate the rights of its employees.