Officials of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) are currently in a crucial reconciliation meeting convened by the Federal Government following the nationwide strike action declared by the union.
According to Channels Television, the meeting is being held at the conference room of the Minister of Labour and Employment in Abuja, with the Minister of Labour, Mohammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, presiding.
Root of the dispute
The crisis stems from allegations that the management of Dangote Refinery unlawfully dismissed 800 Nigerian workers, sparking outrage among union members. PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, led the union’s delegation to press demands for justice and reinstatement of the affected staff.
In reaction to the sackings, PENGASSAN had earlier declared a nationwide strike, disrupting key oil and gas operations across the country.
Impact of the strike
On Monday, union members blocked the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja. Similar blockades were also mounted at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) offices, crippling activities.
The strike action has raised fears of possible disruptions to the nation’s fuel supply chain if the dispute is not quickly resolved.
Federal Government steps in
With mounting tension in the oil and gas sector, the Federal Government stepped in to mediate. The ongoing meeting aims to broker peace between the refinery and the union, with hopes that dialogue will avert a prolonged industrial crisis.
The outcome of the discussions is expected to determine whether PENGASSAN will suspend or intensify its strike action in the coming days.
