PENGASSAN Suspends Nationwide Strike After Federal Government Intervention

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced the suspension of its nationwide strike, which was sparked by a dispute with Dangote Refinery over labour issues. The decision to suspend the strike follows a meeting between PENGASSAN officials and government representatives, including the National Security Adviser.

The dispute between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery began when the refinery laid off over 800 Nigerian workers, citing restructuring. PENGASSAN argued that the layoffs were a violation of workers’ rights and an attempt to undermine unionization. The union had directed its members to stop gas supply and withdraw services from the refinery, leading to disruptions in the oil and gas sector According to PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo, the Federal Government has intervened and brokered a truce between the union and Dangote Refinery. The agreement includes .
Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy the sacked workers to other subsidiaries within the group without loss of pay.
No worker will be victimized for participating in the dispute.

Despite the suspension of the strike, PENGASSAN warned that it will resume industrial action without notice if Dangote Refinery fails to honour the agreement. Osifo emphasized that the union remains dissatisfied with parts of the communique and will closely monitor the refinery’s actions .

“We are only suspending, not calling off this strike. If any part of this agreement is broken, we will not give any notice; we will immediately resume our suspended industrial action,” Osifo stated.

The suspension of the strike brings relief to the oil and gas sector, which had been facing disruptions due to the industrial action. The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the resolution will restore industrial harmony in the sector .