PENGASSAN suspends strike as Dangote Refinery agrees to recall sacked workers

The tension in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector seems to have come to an end as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has reached an agreement to suspend two days action against Dangote Refinery.

This comes as the oil company agreed to recall its workers dismissed for belonging to PENGASSAN.

The decision came after a two-day meeting, held on Monday and Tuesday between the Federal Government, PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery.

In his remarks, the country’s minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, reminded both parties that “the right of workers to unionise in accordance with Nigerian law must be respected.”

Part of the communique after the meeting revealed three key positions: Dangote Group would immediately start the reabsorption of sacked workers, and PENGASSAN would suspend the strike and end workers’ victimisation.

“Reabsorption of Workers: The Dangote Group management will immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay,” the communique read.

“No Victimisation: Both sides agreed that “no worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse.”

PENGASSAN also confirmed that it would “start the process of calling off the strike”.

Recall that PENGASSAN on Sunday announced a strike, directing its members to cut gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery.

PENGASSAN’s strike was a direct response to Dangote Refinery’s sacking of workers for voluntarily joining the union.