The Nigerian government has stepped in to mediate a labor dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, urging the union to suspend its planned nationwide strike. Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi issued the appeal in a statement released on Sunday from Abuja.
PENGASSAN had instructed its members to cease work from midnight on 28 September, protesting what it described as the unlawful dismissal of Nigerian workers at the Dangote Refinery. The union also accused the refinery’s management of anti‑labour practices and discrimination against local employees. A strike would have serious repercussions for Nigeria’s economy, which is heavily dependent on the petroleum sector.
To prevent the crisis from escalating, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched a reconciliation process. The Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations invited PENGASSAN’s leadership and Dangote Refinery’s management to a conciliation meeting at the minister’s office on Monday. Dingyadi stressed the petroleum sector’s importance to the nation’s economy and warned that a strike could lead to substantial revenue losses and hardship for citizens. He appealed to both parties to recognize the sector’s significance and work toward a peaceful resolution, urging PENGASSAN to withdraw its strike declaration so that the government can mediate in a calm atmosphere.
The planned strike has raised concerns about its potential impact on economic stability and national security, given the Dangote Refinery’s critical role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The government’s intervention aims to avert a crisis with far‑reaching economic and social implications. As the conciliation meeting approaches, all parties are expected to seek a mutually beneficial solution. The outcome of the meeting will be pivotal in determining the next steps for resolving the labor dispute and preventing a possible strike.
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