Dangote–PENGASSAN dispute: Government-brokered talks end in deadlock
A reconciliation meeting convened by the federal government to resolve the dispute between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ended without agreement late Monday night.
The meeting, chaired by Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi, brought together officials from PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery, the Ministry of Finance, as well as directors from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Originally scheduled for 2:00 p.m., the meeting commenced nearly two hours late and stretched past midnight before breaking up without a resolution. Talks are expected to resume by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
At the opening session, Mr Dingyadi stressed the importance of preventing the dispute from escalating, warning that a prolonged crisis could have severe consequences for Nigerians.
Background to the Dispute
The standoff follows PENGASSAN’s directive to members to disrupt operations at the Dangote refinery by blocking gas supply. The union said the action was in protest against the alleged unlawful sack of workers who belong to the association, accusing the refinery of anti-labour practices and discrimination against local employees.
Dangote Refinery, in its response, described PENGASSAN’s order as illegal and cautioned the union to operate within Nigerian law. The company also urged the federal government to intervene, warning that disruption of gas and crude oil supply to the refinery could negatively impact the economy.
On Saturday, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) called on PENGASSAN to suspend its directive, while the federal government on Sunday appealed to the union to shelve its planned nationwide strike.
The National Industrial Court in Abuja also issued an interim order restraining PENGASSAN from cutting crude and gas supply to the refinery pending further hearings.
Despite these interventions, PENGASSAN on Monday morning blocked entry points to the NNPC Ltd, NMDPRA, and NUPRC offices in Abuja, displaying banners with inscriptions such as “Dangote Must Obey” and “Dangote is Not Bigger Than the Country.”
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) directed its affiliate unions to mobilise in solidarity with PENGASSAN, escalating the standoff.
