The federal government has successfully mediated a settlement between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery, prompting the union to suspend its nationwide strike and averting what many feared could become a major crisis for Nigeria’s energy sector.
Under the agreement, Dangote has committed to redeploy the over 800 workers who were dismissed, placing them in other entities within the Dangote Group "with no loss of pay."
The government also emphasized that no worker would be victimized for their role in the dispute, and recognized unionization as a right under Nigerian law.
In return, PENGASSAN agreed to begin calling off the strike and resume services.
Conciliation efforts over Monday and Tuesday were led by Labour and Employment Minister Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, supported by security, petroleum, and economic officials, negotiating terms in the presence of union and Dangote representatives.
The meeting also reviewed the procedures used in the dismissals and underscored that union rights should be respected.
This resolution comes after a tense standoff that had seen PENGASSAN cut off gas supply to the refinery and shut down key offices of NNPC, NUPRC, and NMDPRA in Abuja.
Analysts warn that while peace is restored for now, long-term stability will depend on compliance with the agreement and addressing structural labor relations in Nigeria’s vital oil and gas sector.
