THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has stated that it did not endorse the communiqué that brought an end to its recent strike against Dangote Refinery, stressing that several “grey areas” remain unresolved.
Although the union suspended its nationwide strike yesterday following government intervention, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo insisted during an interview today that the document presented was not a binding agreement.
“We did not sign the communiqué. Typically, it should carry the signatures of three parties, but we withheld ours because some aspects did not align with our position,” Osifo explained.
The industrial dispute, which centered on the alleged unlawful dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers, had pitched PENGASSAN against the privately-owned refinery.
Osifo emphasised that the suspension was a decision made in good faith after consultations with the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), contrary to claims that PENGASSAN was mainly interested in union dues.
“Our priority was ensuring our members could return to work and sustain their families,” he said, adding that the union’s clear demand was for the refinery to reinstate the disengaged workers.
According to Osifo, Dangote Refinery initially resisted reabsorbing the sacked employees until government officials intervened.
He also dismissed allegations by Dangote that the workers engaged in sabotage, describing the claim as “false and damaging.”
“If that sabotage tag had stood, those 800 workers would have been blacklisted from future opportunities. Clearing that label was a major victory,” he noted.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, confirmed on Wednesday that a compromise had been reached, assuring that the disengaged staff would be absorbed into subsidiaries of the Dangote Group without salary cuts.
“Unionisation is a legal right, and no worker will be punished for exercising it,” the minister affirmed.
Despite the temporary truce, PENGASSAN warned it would not hesitate to resume industrial action if the refinery fails to uphold the resolutions.
“Our tools are always available. For over 50 years, we’ve defended workers’ rights and will continue to do so,” Osifo maintained.
Before the strike suspension, union members had barricaded the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Abuja and blocked access to regulatory agencies, chanting solidarity songs.
The Trade Union Congress also declared full support for PENGASSAN, vowing that no corporation would be allowed to trample on workers’ rights.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023, denied any wrongdoing.
The company argued that restructuring was necessary for efficiency and safety, insisting that only a fraction of its 3,000 Nigerian staff were affected, while warning that union actions could threaten national fuel supplies.
Adding to the tensions, the National Industrial Court had issued an interim injunction restraining PENGASSAN from continuing the strike, ruling that prolonged disruption could cause irreparable damage. A full hearing is scheduled for October 13.
While the strike is suspended for now, the standoff between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery remains far from settled, with both sides watching closely to see if the compromise will hold.