FG Breaks Silence on Dangote, PENGASSAN Parley

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, has stressed the need for an amicable resolution of the ongoing feud between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on Monday that brought together the refinery, PENGASSAN, and other key players in the oil and gas sector, Dingyadi underscored the importance of both sides to the nation’s stability and economy.

“We want to resolve these issues amicably — for the good of everybody, for the good of our economy, for the good of the security of our nation, and for the good of our workers and employers as well,” the minister said.

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The meeting, scheduled for 2:30 p.m., did not begin until around 4 p.m., and it was unclear at press time whether discussions had concluded.

The talks come amid escalating tensions after PENGASSAN directed its members to cut off gas and crude supply to the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, demanding the reinstatement of workers allegedly sacked for joining the union.

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In response, the refinery accused the union of employing “bully and terror tactics” and reportedly secured an interim court order restraining PENGASSAN from disrupting its operations.