The Federal Government has brokered a truce between the Dangote Group and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), paving the way for the redeployment of refinery workers earlier laid off amid a labour dispute.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, announced the resolution in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, assuring that all affected employees will be reassigned to other subsidiaries within the Dangote Group without any loss of pay.
“After examining the procedures used in the disengagement, the meeting resolved that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately commence the redeployment of the affected workers to other companies within the group, with no loss of pay. No worker will be victimised for their role in the dispute”, Dingyadi stated. “
He further disclosed that PENGASSAN has agreed to initiate the process of calling off its strike, with both parties reaching the agreement “in good faith.”
The minister also reaffirmed that “unionisation is a fundamental right of workers under Nigerian law and must be respected.”
The government-led reconciliation followed a breakdown in talks earlier in the week after tensions flared between the refinery’s management and the union.
PENGASSAN had accused Dangote of unlawfully transferring and dismissing its members while replacing some Nigerian staff with foreign workers — allegations the company denied, insisting the personnel changes were driven purely by operational needs.
The standoff escalated into industrial action, with the union halting gas and crude oil supplies to the multi-billion-dollar refinery.
The move raised concerns about potential disruptions to Nigeria’s energy supply and broader economic stability.
Alarmed by the possible ripple effects, the Federal Government intervened, convening high-level talks that ultimately yielded a compromise designed to protect workers’ rights while ensuring the refinery’s continued operations.
