The Federal Government has confirmed that Dangote Group will redeploy staff who were previously disengaged from its refinery operations, ensuring they do not lose any pay, following the resolution of a dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, shared the update on Wednesday, October 1, in Abuja.
“After reviewing the process used in the disengagement of workers, it was agreed that Dangote Group shall immediately redeploy the affected staff to other companies within the group, without any loss of pay.
“No worker will face victimisation as a result of their involvement in the disagreement between Dangote and PENGASSAN,” Dingyadi said.
He added that both sides had reached a mutual understanding. “PENGASSAN agreed to begin the process of calling off the strike. Both sides accepted this resolution in good faith,” he said.
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The minister also emphasised that “unionisation is a right of workers under Nigerian law, and this right must be respected.”
Recall that the dispute arose after PENGASSAN accused the refinery of mass transfers and sackings of union members and of replacing some Nigerian staff with foreign nationals, claims the Dangote Group consistently denied.
Tensions worsened when the union halted the supply of gas and crude oil to the refinery, prompting Federal Government intervention over concerns about potential impacts on the nation’s economy and energy security.
The latest government-brokered talks have now paved the way for the immediate resumption of operations and the protection of workers’ rights.