The Federal Government’s attempt to broker peace between the management of Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the alleged mass sack of union members ended in a deadlock on Monday night.
The meeting, which began around 3:30 p.m. at the Minister of Labour and Employment’s Conference Hall in Abuja, dragged late into the night but broke up shortly after midnight without any agreement.
Both parties are expected to reconvene at 2:00 p.m. today, September 30.
The Federal Government, concerned about the potential impact of the dispute on the economy and energy security, had summoned both sides to the negotiating table following reports of widespread discontent.
The crisis stems from PENGASSAN’s allegations that Dangote Refinery embarked on mass transfers and dismissals of union members, allegedly replacing some Nigerians with foreign nationals — a claim the company has consistently denied.
PENGASSAN was represented by its President, Festus Osifo, alongside the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Nuhu Toro.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammad Dingyadi, led the government delegation, while Dangote Refinery was represented by senior management officials.
The session, originally slated for 2:00 p.m., commenced around 3:50 p.m. due to the late arrival of key stakeholders, before moving into a closed-door discussion that lasted several hours.
In his opening remarks, Dingyadi underscored the seriousness of the situation:
“What’s happening today is very dear to our economy and to the security of the country. We have been informed that PENGASSAN is on strike.”
The Minister appealed to both parties to demonstrate good faith in dialogue, stressing that industrial peace in the oil and gas sector was critical at a time Nigeria is banking on the Dangote Refinery to boost local refining capacity and reduce reliance on petroleum imports.
The deadlock means tensions remain high. PENGASSAN has insisted its members will not return to work until alleged anti-labour practices are reversed, while Dangote Refinery maintains that its restructuring exercise is consistent with global best practices.
As the stalemate lingers, concerns are mounting over possible disruption of operations at the refinery and the ripple effects on petroleum product supply nationwide.
The next round of talks later today is expected to determine whether a compromise can be reached to avert a full-blown industrial crisis in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.