…As Union warns it will resume action if deal is breached
…Dangote agrees to recall sacked workers
Nigeria on Wednesday narrowly averted a prolonged shutdown in the oil and gas sector after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) announced the suspension of its nationwide strike against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, following direct intervention by the Federal Government.
The union cautioned, however, that the truce was fragile and vowed to resume industrial action “without notice” if the terms of the government-brokered agreement were breached.
The strike, which commenced on Sunday over allegations of anti-union practices at the refinery, had already disrupted vital oil and gas operations across the country before an early morning breakthrough was reached.
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo told journalists in Abuja that the decision to suspend the action followed marathon negotiations involving senior government officials and representatives of the Dangote Group, which lasted until 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
“We are only suspending, not calling off this strike,” Osifo declared. “If any part of this agreement is broken, we will not give any warning. We will immediately resume our suspended industrial action.”
He underlined that the dispute centred on workers’ fundamental rights to freedom of association and fair wages, accusing the Dangote Group of persistently disregarding labour laws.
Although the communique signed under the Ministry of Labour’s supervision fell short of the union’s expectations, Osifo explained that PENGASSAN opted to “take the moral high ground” in deference to national interest.
“We don’t trust that Dangote will live up to expectations,” he stated. “But because of respect for government and institutions that sat with us all night, we have decided to suspend the action.”
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, inaugurated in 2023 with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has faced repeated clashes with oil unions, including its sister body NUPENG, which has also accused the company of anti-union behaviour.
Labour experts caution that the crisis underscores deeper challenges in Nigeria’s industrial relations within the strategic energy sector, warning that any collapse of the fragile truce could once again cripple fuel supply chains.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has pledged strict oversight of the refinery’s compliance with the agreement.
For millions of Nigerians already contending with inflation and rising fuel costs, the suspension of the strike may bring short-term relief, yet the enduring distrust between labour and Africa’s largest refinery suggests the industrial dispute is far from settled.