The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has suspended its nationwide industrial action against Dangote Refinery, citing respect for the Nigerian government and its citizens. According to Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, the decision to suspend the strike was made despite the union’s dissatisfaction with the terms of the agreement brokered between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN had embarked on a two-day strike, which led to the disruption of gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery, affecting the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility and Nigeria’s oil downstream sector. The strike was prompted by the refinery’s decision to sack over 800 workers who had voluntarily joined PENGASSAN. The union’s primary demand was the recall of these sacked workers.
Following the intervention of the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, an agreement was reached, which includes the reabsorption of the sacked workers. While PENGASSAN has agreed to suspend its industrial action, Osifo warned that the union would resume the strike immediately if Dangote Refinery fails to keep its part of the agreement.
The development comes after a series of negotiations involving government institutions, including the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and ministers. The Federal Government’s intervention highlights the significance of the oil and gas sector to Nigeria’s economy and the need for stability in the industry.
The suspension of the strike is expected to restore normalcy to the oil downstream sector, which was impacted by the industrial action. However, the union’s warning suggests that the issue is far from resolved, and the situation will be closely monitored in the coming days. The Nigerian government’s role in brokering the agreement underscores its commitment to maintaining industrial peace and ensuring the continued operation of critical sectors of the economy.
