The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has agreed to suspend its nationwide strike following government-mediated negotiations with Dangote Petroleum, ending a high-stakes standoff that threatened Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
Last week, PENGASSAN had ordered members to halt gas and crude supplies to the Dangote Refinery and withdraw services after the refinery dismissed over 800 workers who were unionising. The walkout quickly escalated into a national strike, affecting key agencies including NNPC, NUPRC, and NMDPRA.
Dangote management maintained the dismissals were part of an internal reorganisation and alleged sabotage by some workers. Meanwhile, the refinery continued limited operations through the dispute.
However, the federal government intervened, convening a two-day conciliation meeting led by the Labour Ministry and attended by ministers, security agencies, and stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with a signed communiqué in which:
Dangote agreed to redeploy the dismissed staff into other companies within the Dangote Group with no loss of pay.
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It was affirmed that no worker will be victimised over their participation in the dispute.
PENGASSAN committed to beginning the formal process of calling off the strike.
A statement from the Ministry of Labour reinforced that the right to unionise is protected by Nigerian law and must be respected.
The resolution averts a broader crisis in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and stabilises what had begun to look like a looming disruption to fuel distribution.
Analysts view the truce as critical to maintaining investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy industry.
That said, the industrial peace is contingent on both parties honoring the agreement, particularly the timely redeployment of workers and guarantees against reprisals.
