The National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Engr. Festus Osifo, has warned that the union will resume the nationwide strike if the Dangote Group fails to comply with the resolution reached during the two-day conciliatory meeting held in Abuja. Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, October …
We’ll Resume Strike If Dangote Fails to Comply – PENGASSAN
The National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Engr. Festus Osifo, has warned that the union will resume the nationwide strike if the Dangote Group fails to comply with the resolution reached during the two-day conciliatory meeting held in Abuja.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Osifo emphasised that PENGASSAN has only suspended the strike and will not give any notice once non-compliance with the agreement is observed.
“We are suspending and will be monitoring closely. Any slip on the part of Dangote, any part of this agreement, or any communiqué put out by the Ministry of Labour that is broken, will not give any notice; we will resume the suspended industrial action immediately,” Osifo stated.
PENGASSAN had commenced a nationwide strike on Sunday, September 28, over the sack of 800 Nigerian workers by the management of Dangote Refinery last week. The union directed its members to stop the supply of crude oil and gas to the Dangote Refinery and withdraw their services nationwide. It demanded immediate reinstatement of the workers sacked by the refinery.
READ ALSO: PENGASSAN Calls off Strike after FG Brokered Agreement between Union and Dangote
However, following a conciliatory meeting held at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, on Monday and Tuesday in Abuja, a resolution was reached for the suspension of the strike.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Minister of Labour, it was also resolved that the Dangote Group should immediately begin the process of recalling the disengaged employees and transferring them to other companies within the Dangote Group without loss of pay.
The communiqué said both parties agreed to the resolutions made in good faith.
Osifo stressed that the decision to suspend the industrial action was taken out of respect for the federal government, and they would return to the trenches if the Dangote Group reneges on the agreement.
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He said the union is not happy with the terms of the agreement because it did not capture their main demand of recalling the 800 sacked Nigerians.
“But out of respect for government institutions, for the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Chief Reconciliator of the Federation, and ministers who worked tirelessly into the early hours of the morning to mediate, we decided to suspend the action.
“However, let me be clear: if Dangote fails to keep its part, we will resume immediately, without any warning,” Osifo stated.
He expressed doubts that Dangote will respect the agreement, accusing the company of being notorious for not honouring agreements.
“We know that Dangote does not play by the rules or respect agreements. We believe and suspect that some of the promises extracted during the negotiations will not be honoured. But because we respect due process and institutions of government, we will give them the benefit of the doubt. Yet, any breach will be met with a severe and immediate response,” the PENGASSAN president added.
READ ALSO: Workers Locked Out at NUPRC Headquarters Amid PENGASSAN–Dangote Dispute
He clarified that the struggle by PENGASSAN is to defend the rights of the workers, not merely about their check-off dues.
“It is actually about the freedom of association and the welfare of our members, because when we enter organisations, we improve conditions of service, and that is why workers subscribe to us,” he stated.
He said that apart from defending workers’ rights, PENGASSAN also assists oil and gas companies to grow.
“We are not out to kill Dangote Refinery, which has barely invested $20 billion. That narrative is false,” he said.
He further stressed that PENGASSAN members are patriotic Nigerians, and that was why, despite their reservations in the agreement, the union decided to suspend the strike.
He also dismissed claims that PENGASSAN is sabotaging the economy by its action, insisting that the union is only fighting for justice for the affected workers.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
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