The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has distanced itself from the federal government communique that announced the suspension of its nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery, insisting it did not sign the document.
Coolbase News reports that the union suspended its industrial action on Wednesday, October 1, after government intervention, but stressed that its concerns over the welfare of more than 800 sacked workers were not fully addressed.
Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, October 2, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, explained that the communique presented after the negotiations was not an agreement between the parties.
“If you see that communiqué, we did not sign it. Normally, it is supposed to be signed by three parties. We did not sign because we felt that some things in it were not okay with us,” Osifo said.
He clarified that the communiqué was only a communication by the Minister of Labour and Employment, who acted as chief conciliator in the matter.
Union Insists On Workers’ Reinstatement
Osifo said the core of PENGASSAN’s demand was the reinstatement of the disengaged staff.
“The statement that Dangote made on workers sabotaging the economy was totally incorrect. If we had allowed that sabotage tag to stand, those 800 people would not be able to secure jobs in the future. That stigma would remain forever. Clearing that was a very big win,” he said.
The union leader dismissed suggestions that PENGASSAN’s fight was about check-off dues, stressing that the priority was ensuring its members could return to work and provide for their families.
“Our position is clear: take the people back to the refinery. That is all we asked for,” he insisted.
Coolbase News reports that the strike, which began on Sunday, paralysed parts of the oil and gas industry, with union members barricading the NNPC headquarters and other regulatory agencies in Abuja while chanting solidarity songs.
The Federal Government quickly stepped in, with the Minister of Labour, Mohammed Dingyadi, and the National Security Adviser brokering late-night talks.
At the end of the negotiations, Dingyadi confirmed that over 800 disengaged workers would be reassigned within subsidiaries of the Dangote Group without loss of pay.
“Unionisation is a legal right of workers,” the minister said. “No worker will be victimised for participating in the dispute.”
Dangote Denies Wrongdoing
Dangote Refinery, however, denied wrongdoing, saying the restructuring was necessary for safety and efficiency.
The company explained that out of its 3,000 Nigerian employees, only a fraction were affected.
“No law grants PENGASSAN the right to cut off supplies,” the company added, warning that the union’s actions could harm national fuel supply and revenues.
The industrial face-off also moved to the courts. The National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, issued a seven-day interim injunction restraining PENGASSAN from continuing its strike.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim ruled that continued disruption would cause irreparable damage, and fixed October 13 for the hearing.
Despite the injunction, Osifo warned that the union was ready to resume the strike without notice if Dangote failed to honour the resolutions.
“If Dangote does not do the needful, our tools are always available. We will never get tired of struggling for what is right. We have been around for 50 years before the Dangote Refinery came on stream,” he declared.
Coolbase News recalls that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also threw its weight behind PENGASSAN, accusing Dangote of replacing Nigerians with foreigners.
TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, said: “We stand in full solidarity with the affected workers. No corporation will be allowed to trample on workers’ rights.”
