The Federal Government has revealed that employees recently separated from Dangote Refinery will be reassigned to other entities within the Dangote Group, ensuring their salaries remain unaffected.
Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, the Minister of Labour and Employment, confirmed this update in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, following the resolution of a dispute between the refinery’s management and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
“Upon reviewing the process behind the workforce disengagement, it was agreed that Dangote Group’s management will promptly initiate the redeployment of the affected employees to other companies within the group, maintaining their current pay,” Dingyadi explained.
He further assured that “no employee will face retaliation due to their involvement in the conflict between Dangote and PENGASSAN.”
The minister highlighted that both sides reached a mutual agreement during mediation sessions. “PENGASSAN consented to commence the strike withdrawal process, with both parties committing to this resolution in good faith,” he added.
Emphasizing workers’ rights, Dingyadi noted, “The freedom to form and join unions is a fundamental right protected under Nigerian law, and this must be upheld.”
This accord came after several days of intense negotiations, following an earlier stalemate on Monday. The dispute originated when PENGASSAN accused the refinery of conducting mass transfers and terminations of union members, coupled with the hiring of foreign personnel to replace Nigerian staff.
The union condemned these actions as breaches of labor regulations and infringements on domestic employment rights. Conversely, refinery officials refuted these claims, stating the restructuring was driven solely by operational requirements and was unrelated to union matters.
The conflict intensified when PENGASSAN stopped supplying gas and crude oil to the refinery, sparking concerns over potential interruptions to Nigeria’s energy supply and economic health.
In response, the Federal Government stepped in, cautioning about the “negative impact on the economy and energy security” if the dispute persisted, and facilitated high-level discussions that culminated in the agreement announced on Wednesday.
