Suspend Planned Nationwide Strike, FG Tells PENGASSAN

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The Federal Government has asked the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENSASSAN) to suspend its planned nationwide strike over a feud with the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, made the call in a statement on Sunday, September 28.

According to Dingyadi, the ministry has taken steps to bring both parties to a roundtable to stop their dispute from escalating further.

Pinnacle Daily reports that PENGASSAN, in a communique signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, on Sunday, announced that it would embark on a nationwide withdrawal of services starting Monday, September 29, over its dispute with Dangote Refinery.

It said the decision followed the sack of over 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, describing the refinery’s action as a violation of labour laws, the Nigerian Constitution, and international conventions.

PENGASSAN also accused the refinery of replacing Nigerian staff with over two thousand foreign workers, calling it an act of disloyalty to the nation despite the huge incentives granted to the company.

As such, the association directed all members across offices, institutions, and field locations to down tools effective Monday, September 29th, while commencing a 24-hour prayer session.

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Urging the oil workers to suspend their planned action, the minister hinted that invitations have been extended to both the leadership of PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency meeting in his office on Monday for the conciliation of their dispute.

He also called on the leadership of PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration to allow his ministry to conciliate the dispute in a peaceful atmosphere.

“The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday.

“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of its economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses for the country but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians. Consequently, it will have adverse impacts, both on economic stability and national security,” Dingyadi stated.

The minister further urged the two parties to give peace a chance, assuring that the federal government would resolve the dispute amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved and in the national interest.

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