The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the resolution of the industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This development was disclosed in a communiqué signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi.

According to the communiqué, the Minister emphasized that unionization is a right of workers backed by Nigerian laws and should be respected. The dispute had led to the sacking of over 800 Nigerian workers by the private refinery, but the Minister assured that no worker would be victimized following their role in the disagreement. The Dangote Group has agreed to immediately start the process of moving the disengaged workers to other companies within the group, with no loss of pay.

The resolution was reached after a conciliation meeting held at the office of the National Security Adviser, which was attended by several high-ranking government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha. The meeting followed a notice to stop gas supply to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the withdrawal of services by PENGASSAN, which had also led to a nationwide industrial action.

PENGASSAN and the private refinery had been at loggerheads over unresolved labor issues, including unionization and the sacking of workers. However, with the resolution, the Minister disclosed that PENGASSAN has agreed to start the process of calling off the ongoing strike. The development is expected to bring relief to the affected workers and stabilize the country’s petroleum industry.

The dispute had sparked concerns over the potential impact on the country’s economy, given the significance of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The resolution is seen as a positive step towards addressing labor issues in the industry and promoting industrial harmony. With the agreement, the Dangote Group is expected to commence the process of reassigning the affected workers, while PENGASSAN is expected to call off the strike, bringing an end to the industrial action.