The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its strike.
The strike was called to protest the sacking of 800 members of the union by the Dangote Refinery and Petroleum. It commenced on Sunday.
The suspension of the strike was announced after two days of negotiation between the parties, brokered by the Federal Government and a conciliator.
Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi presided over the meeting on the first day before National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu took over, and the meeting was moved to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The decision compelled Dangote Refinery to reabsorb the sacked workers because it is their right to belong to a union of their choice.
However, the recalled staff members would not be reintegrated into Dangote Refinery but posted to other companies in the Dangote group.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting reads: ‘Sequel to the notice to stop gas supply to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and withdrawal of services by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, DG DSS, DG NIA, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Chief Executives of NMDPRA and NUPRC, representatives of NNPCL held conciliation meetings with management of Dangote Group and the President and Secretary General TUC and leadership of PENGASSAN on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th September, 2025
‘Whereas the leadership of PENGASSAN said that the directives given to stop the supply of gas to Dangote Petroleum and withdrawal of services was in response to the termination of appointment of over Eight Hundred members of PENGASSAN by the management of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical on the other hand, explained the reason for disengagement of the workers was as a result of the ongoing reorganisation in the company.
‘After a lengthy discussion, the matter was resolved as follows: The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.
‘After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.
‘No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.
‘PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.’
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo told reporters that the union was dissatisfied with the terms of the agreement.
He said: ‘We are not happy with the terms of the agreement because it did not capture our main demand of recalling the 800 sacked Nigerians.
But out of respect for government institutions, for the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Chief Reconciliator of the Federation, and the ministers who worked tirelessly into the early hours of the morning to mediate, we decided to suspend the action.
‘However, let me be clear: if Dangote fails to keep its part, we will resume immediately, without any warning.’
The union leader said he doubted the sincerity of the refinery management to follow through on the agreement.
Osifo added: ‘We know that Dangote does not play by the rules or respect agreements. We believe and suspect that some of the promises extracted during the negotiations will not be honoured. But because we respect due process and institutions of government, we will give them the benefit of the doubt.’
The conciliation brokered by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, was attended by high-ranking government officials, security chiefs, labour leaders, and industry regulators.
Among them were the NSA; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Badudu; the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); as well as the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Also present were the Chief Executives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), alongside representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the President and Secretary-General of PENGASSAN.