FG Brokers Peace As Dangote Agrees To Redeploy Disengaged Refinery Workers
The Federal Government has announced that the Dangote Group will redeploy staff earlier disengaged from its refinery operations, following the resolution of its dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the decision was reached after a conciliatory meeting between the refinery management, the workers’ union, and government officials.
Dingyadi explained that after reviewing the procedure used in the disengagement, all parties agreed that the affected workers would be redeployed to other subsidiaries of the Dangote Group without any loss of pay.
“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN,” the minister assured.
The minister further noted that PENGASSAN had consented to begin the process of calling off its strike following the compromise reached, adding that both sides entered the agreement in good faith.
He also stressed that “unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria, and this right should be respected.”
The face-off between the refinery management and the workers’ union had escalated earlier in the week when PENGASSAN accused the company of mass transfers and sackings of union members, while allegedly replacing some Nigerians with foreign nationals. The Dangote Group, however, denied the claims.
The crisis deepened when PENGASSAN halted the supply of gas and crude oil to the refinery, a move that prompted the Federal Government’s intervention due to concerns over its impact on the nation’s economy and energy security.
Following the truce, the refinery is expected to resume normal operations, while the redeployment process for the affected staff will commence immediately.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
