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FG resolved Dangote–PENGASSAN labour dispute after two days of talks.
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Disengaged workers to be reabsorbed into other Dangote companies with full pay.
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PENGASSAN to call off strike, no worker to face victimisation.
The Federal Government has successfully resolved the labour dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), ending a standoff that had threatened the stability of fuel supply across the country.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that after two days of intensive talks held on Monday and Tuesday, both parties reached a truce that will see the disengaged refinery workers reabsorbed into other Dangote Group companies without loss of pay.
The conciliation meeting was convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyad
i, and attended by top government officials including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
Speaking at the meeting, Dingyadi emphasized that workers’ rights to unionise must be respected in line with Nigerian law.
According to a communiqué issued after the discussions, PENGASSAN explained that its decision to direct members to withdraw services and halt gas supply to the refinery was in response to the termination of over 800 workers. The management of Dangote Refinery, however, argued that the move was part of an internal reorganisation exercise.
Following lengthy deliberations, the meeting produced key resolutions. The government reaffirmed the right of employees to unionise and secured an agreement from Dangote Group to immediately reabsorb the disengaged workers into other subsidiaries without any reduction in salaries. Both parties also agreed that no employee would face victimisation for their role in the crisis.
PENGASSAN, in turn, committed to initiating the process of calling off its industrial action in line with the new understanding.
The resolution is expected to restore stability in refinery operations and ease concerns over possible disruptions to petroleum supply.
