The Federal Government has appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to suspend its planned strike scheduled to begin on Monday over its disagreement with Dangote Refinery. Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, appealed on Sunday, noting that the Ministry has already initiated steps to bring both sides to the negotiation table to prevent the dispute from worsening.
In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Patience Onuobia, the Minister confirmed that invitations have been sent to PENGASSAN leaders and Dangote Refinery’s management for an emergency conciliation meeting in his office on Monday.
Dingyadi urged the union to reconsider its strike decision and create an opportunity for dialogue, emphasizing the importance of resolving the matter amicably.
Speaking further, Dingyadi said: “The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of its economy. A strike will not only result in significant revenue losses for the country but also cause further hardship and difficulties for Nigerians. Consequently, it will have adverse impacts on both economic stability and national security.”
The Minister urged the feuding parties to give peace a chance, assuring them that the Federal Government would resolve the dispute amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved and in the national interest.
In a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, PENGASSAN directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services following the alleged mass dismissal of some Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
The union accused the refinery of violating Nigeria’s labor laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by dismissing workers for joining the association. It alleged the refinery had replaced the dismissed staff with “over 2,000 Indians,” calling the action “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
PENGASSAN directed members in field locations to down tools from Sunday and ordered a total nationwide shutdown across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies from Monday.
Responding to PENGASSAN’s accusations, Dangote Refinery explained that its recent staff restructuring, which resulted in the dismissal of some employees, was intended to curb recurring incidents of sabotage. The company denied allegations that the move was arbitrary, stressing that it was carried out to enhance safety and improve efficiency in its operations.
“This exercise was not arbitrary. It became necessary to protect the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that posed serious safety risks and disrupted operational efficiency. The decision was taken in the overall interest of the refinery, given the recurring sabotage across different units, which had grave implications for human life and safety,” the management said in a statement issued on Friday.