Tension in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has eased after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) reached an agreement to suspend its two-day action against Dangote Refinery. The dispute, which saw PENGASSAN direct its members to cut gas and crude supply, was triggered by the refinery’s dismissal of workers for unionizing.
The resolution followed a high-stakes two-day meeting between the Federal Government, PENGASSAN, and Dangote Refinery, concluding on Tuesday.
Federal Government Mediates Deal
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, played a pivotal role in brokering the peace, reminding both parties that “the right of workers to unionise in accordance with Nigerian law must be respected.”
The resulting communiqué outlined three key resolutions, effectively ending the impasse:
- Reabsorption of Workers: The Dangote Group management committed to immediately beginning the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the conglomerate, ensuring “no loss of pay.”
- Strike Suspension: PENGASSAN confirmed it would “start the process of calling off the strike” immediately.
- No Victimization: Both sides agreed that no worker would be victimized or penalized for their role in the dispute.
The agreement successfully addressed PENGASSAN’s core demand, reinforcing the legal right of workers at the massive refinery complex to associate with the union.
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