A conciliation meeting between the Nigerian Federal Government, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the Dangote Group has ended in a deadlock. The meeting, which lasted over nine hours, aimed to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute over the alleged sack of 800 workers by the Dangote Refinery.

According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, who chaired the meeting, progress was made, but two key issues remain unresolved: the reinstatement of the sacked workers and unionization. Dingyadi expressed optimism that a resolution could be reached by the end of the day, with the meeting set to resume at 2 p.m.

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, stated that no agreement was reached on the reinstatement of the dismissed workers. He emphasized that the union’s primary concern is the reinstatement of the over 800 workers, who are facing damaged careers and reputations due to being branded as saboteurs. Osifo warned that the strike would continue until the workers are reinstated, as their livelihoods and future employment prospects are at stake.

The Dangote Group has admitted to dismissing the workers, with the reason stated in a letter. The minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, expressed concerns about the economic risks of the prolonged strike, emphasizing the need to limit damage to the economy and maintain the current momentum of growth.

The standoff between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Group has significant implications for Nigeria’s economy, particularly in the oil and gas sector. The ongoing strike has raised concerns about the potential disruption to gas and crude supplies, which could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s economy. As the meeting is set to resume, all parties involved are working towards finding a resolution to the dispute, which is crucial for the Nigerian economy to move forward.