PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery Resolve Dispute After High-Level Intervention

The industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been resolved following a series of marathon negotiations brokered by the Federal Government, with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, playing a central role.

The conflict erupted after PENGASSAN accused the refinery of sacking more than 800 Nigerian workers for attempting to unionise. The union described the move as a “flagrant violation” of constitutional rights and responded by directing its members to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the multi-billion-dollar refinery, threatening to cripple operations at Africa’s largest single-train facility.

Dangote management, however, insisted the terminations were linked to internal restructuring and alleged acts of sabotage, not unionisation. Tensions escalated as PENGASSAN extended its directive to cover vessel loading operations, prompting Dangote Refinery to obtain a court injunction to restrain the union from disrupting supply chains.

Faced with the prospect of an energy crisis and potential sabotage to a critical national asset, the Federal Government convened an emergency meeting in Abuja chaired by   Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari-Dingyadi. NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in attendance. According to sources at the meeting, Ribadu underscored the refinery’s “strategic importance to Nigeria’s energy security” and warned that prolonged disruption could have dire consequences for the economy and public order.

After two days of intensive talks, an agreement was reached:

• The dismissed workers are to be re-absorbed within the Dangote Group and reassigned to suitable roles without any loss of pay or seniority.
• PENGASSAN formally suspended its strike directive, allowing gas and crude supply to the refinery to resume immediately.
• Both parties reaffirmed the workers’ constitutional right to union membership, with the Ministry of Labour pledging to monitor compliance.

Speaking after the resolution, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, said the union was satisfied that its members would not be victimised and stressed that the agreement reaffirmed workers’ rights across the oil and gas sector.

In his remarks, Dangote Refinery’s Executive Director, Devakumar Edwin, welcomed the truce, describing the refinery as a “national project that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.”

NSA Nuhu Ribadu lauded both parties for prioritising national interest, noting: “The refinery is too important to Nigeria’s economy to be destabilised. Dialogue and compromise were the only options, and I am glad reason has prevailed.”

The resolution is seen as a relief for the government, which had feared that the industrial standoff could undercut fuel supply stability and derail the refinery’s export plans.