…Vows to Resume if Dangote Fails to Comply
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike which began on Sunday being 28th September 2025, following an agreement brokered by the Federal Government.
According to PENGASSAN, the commencement of three days strike was mainly due to the termination of appointment of over 800 workers employed by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.
In the agreement which was reached and signed on Tuesday night, following the the Federal Government intervention, the management of Dangote accepted to start the process to reabsorb the 800 staff earlier sacked and with no losing of their pay, while PENGASSAN would also start the process of calling off the strike.
Briefing news men in Abuja on Wednesday, PENGASSAN’s President, Comrade (Engr.) Festus Osifo, said that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union met and resolved to suspend the strike as a mark of respect following the sacrifices made by Federal Government and other stakeholders to broker peace.
He noted that the agreement did not fully address the demands of PENGASSAN as it failed to give specific guarantees that the sacked workers will be returned to their jobs at the refinery, but union has accepted the deal even with the grey areas.
He said the Association will not hesitate to resume its strike without any notice if the management of Dangote fail to comply with their demands.
“We will not hesitate to resume industrial action without notice if Dangote fails to comply with the agreed terms”.Recalling that just barely two weeks after the Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the union.
Comrade Osifo also the President of TUC observed the affected staff by Dangote’s Company were still fresh graduates and trainees but they were being accused of economic sabotage.
“A single letter was used to terminate the appointment of these 800 staff, with fake claims of sabotage”, he said.
He, however accused Aliyu Dangote and his management for their failure to act within the ample of the law and lack of respect for rights of workers.
” Dangote feel he is bigger than the laws of Nigeria.He has previously reneged on agreements with NUPENG and is doing the same with us”, he lamented.
Responding to the allegation of sabotaging the company, Engr. Osifo refuted the claimed, saying that PENGASSAN being an association has members in some of the multinational oil companies operating across the country and has contributed to the progress and development of this country.
He also dismissed the allegations that the association was after the check off dues that it will get from Dangote Refinery, saying that PENGASSAN is only interested in giving the workers a platform to push for and safeguard their welfare.
According to him, the combined salaries of affected workers by Dangote Refinery were far less than what a handful of members in ExxonMobil or Chevron earn monthly.
The real issue he said, was to protect the rights of workers and fair treatment.