The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has firmly denied signing the communiqué that led to the suspension of its recent nationwide strike against the Dangote Refinery, describing the document as a ministerial statement rather than a tripartite agreement.
The union had downed tools in protest over the dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers by the management of the Dangote Refinery. Although the strike was halted following government intervention, PENGASSAN insists its core demands are still unmet.
Speaking during a televised interview on Thursday, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo clarified that the document released after Wednesday’s meeting with the federal government was not endorsed by the union.
“That communiqué wasn’t an agreement. Normally, all parties involved are expected to sign, but we didn’t, because we didn’t agree with everything in it,” Osifo stated.
Dispute Rooted in Workers’ Rights
The standoff began over what the union described as the unlawful disengagement of over 800 Nigerian workers, a move PENGASSAN says was in retaliation for their efforts to unionise. The refinery allegedly replaced them with more than 2,000 expatriates, sparking outrage within the labour movement.
Osifo emphasised that the union’s fight goes beyond organizational interests, focusing instead on protecting Nigerian workers who were abruptly removed from their positions.
“Some people in the media twisted the narrative, saying we were fighting over check-off dues. That’s false. Our main priority was to ensure our members could return to work and continue to provide for their families,” he said.
He added that the union had to carefully weigh its options when presented with the communiqué. “We subjected it to our NEC, and we took the decision in good faith to suspend, not end the strike.”
Dangote Accused of Economic Bias, Denies Wrongdoing
The union strongly rejected allegations made by Dangote Refinery that the disengaged workers had sabotaged operations. According to Osifo, such claims were dangerous and untrue.
“That sabotage tag was unjustified. If we had allowed it to stand, those 800 workers would have been blacklisted for life in the industry,” he said, describing the union’s success in clearing that narrative as “a big win.”
Dangote Refinery, on its part, claimed that the restructuring exercise was aimed at improving operational efficiency and safety. It maintained that only a small portion of its 3,000 Nigerian employees were affected.
In a statement, the company warned PENGASSAN against further disruptions, arguing that the union has no legal authority to interfere with refinery operations or fuel supply chains.
Court Injunction, Government Mediation
Prior to the strike’s suspension, PENGASSAN members had staged demonstrations across key oil and gas installations, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja. They carried placards and sang protest songs, calling for immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers.
Their actions drew support from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), whose Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, condemned the mass layoffs and pledged full solidarity.
However, a seven-day interim injunction from the National Industrial Court soon followed. Justice Emmanuel Subilim ruled that the strike could inflict irreparable damage on national interests, setting a court hearing for October 13.
Despite the injunction, the strike was only suspended after meetings with the National Security Adviser and Dangote management. According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, both sides agreed that the disengaged workers would be reassigned to subsidiaries within the Dangote Group without any loss of pay.
“Unionisation is a constitutional right. No worker will be penalised for taking part in lawful union activities,” Dingyadi affirmed.
Strike May Resume if Resolutions Are Breached
Though the picketing has stopped for now, PENGASSAN has made it clear that the strike is only paused not cancelled.
“If the management fails to do the needful, our tools are always ready. We’ve been around for 50 years, long before Dangote Refinery came into existence,” Osifo warned.
The union continues to push for full reinstatement of the affected workers at the refinery itself, not just redeployment to other branches of the conglomerate. It maintains that only a fair and transparent resolution will bring lasting peace to the dispute.
About the Author
