The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has refuted claims that it endorsed the communiqué purportedly concluding its recent nationwide strike involving Dangote Refinery, emphasizing that their primary grievances remain unaddressed.
The industrial action, which significantly impacted the oil and gas industry’s operations, was reportedly halted on Wednesday following government mediation. Nevertheless, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo clarified that the document circulated after the Abuja meeting did not constitute a formal agreement.
“We did not put our signatures on that communiqué. Typically, such a document requires endorsement from all three parties involved. We withheld our signature because certain terms were unacceptable to us,” Osifo explained during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Thursday.
He further noted that the statement issued post-discussion was essentially a communiqué from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, who acted as the lead mediator.
Contrary to some media narratives suggesting the union’s focus was on union dues, Osifo clarified that the core issue was the reinstatement of dismissed employees.
“Upon review by our National Executive Council, we prioritized the return of our members to their jobs to support their families, not the collection of union fees as some outlets claimed,” he stated.
Osifo reiterated PENGASSAN’s firm stance: “Our demand is straightforward-reintegrate the affected workers into the refinery.”
He revealed that Dangote Refinery initially resisted rehiring the laid-off staff until government intervention compelled a resolution.
Earlier, Dangote management accused the dismissed workers of attempting to undermine refinery operations, an allegation Osifo vehemently rejected as baseless and harmful.
“Dangote’s claim that our members were sabotaging the economy is entirely false. Accepting such a label would have permanently damaged the reputations and future employment prospects of those 800 workers,” he lamented.
Osifo emphasized that the union’s struggle transcends its own interests, focusing instead on safeguarding Nigerian workers from unjust treatment.
“Should Dangote fail to fulfill its obligations, we remain prepared to escalate our actions. Our union has been advocating for workers’ rights for over five decades, long before the refinery commenced operations,” he affirmed.
According to reports from LEADERSHIP, Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi confirmed on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached, allowing more than 800 dismissed workers to be redeployed within Dangote Group subsidiaries without any loss of salary.
“Workers have the legal right to unionize,” the minister declared. “No employee will face retaliation for their involvement in this dispute.”
The decision to pause the strike followed consultations involving the National Security Adviser and Dangote management.
While acknowledging unresolved issues, Osifo stated that the union acted with sincerity and warned that the strike could be reinstated abruptly if Dangote fails to honor the agreement.
Prior to the strike suspension, PENGASSAN members had blockaded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja and obstructed access to regulatory bodies, expressing solidarity through chants.
The union had accused Dangote Refinery of unlawfully terminating over 800 Nigerian employees and replacing them with more than 2,000 foreign workers from India.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed full support for PENGASSAN, with Secretary-General Nuhu Toro stating, “We stand firmly with the affected workers. No company will be permitted to violate workers’ rights.”
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued a seven-day interim injunction restraining PENGASSAN from continuing the strike. Justice Emmanuel Subilim cautioned that ongoing disruptions could cause irreversible harm and scheduled a further hearing for October 13.
Dangote Refinery, which began operations in May 2023, denied any misconduct, asserting that its workforce restructuring was essential for operational safety and efficiency.
The company maintained that only a small portion of its 3,000 Nigerian employees were impacted and criticized PENGASSAN’s approach.
“PENGASSAN has no legal authority to disrupt supply chains,” the refinery stated, warning that such interruptions could jeopardize fuel availability and national revenue streams.
Although government officials and management describe the resolution as a compromise, PENGASSAN remains vigilant and prepared to act if necessary.
