The Federal Government on Wednesday announced that staff earlier disengaged from Dangote Refinery operations will be redeployed across other companies within the Dangote Group, following the resolution of its dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed this in Abuja, assuring that the affected staff would not suffer any loss of pay during the redeployment process.
“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately begin the process of redeploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay,” Dingyadi said in a statement.
He further stressed: “No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.”
The minister explained that both parties had reached a compromise, adding that PENGASSAN had agreed to initiate steps to suspend its industrial action. “Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith,” he said.
Dingyadi also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to workers’ rights, stating: “Unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria, and this right should be respected.”
The agreement followed days of conciliation meetings after earlier negotiations between refinery management and the union collapsed on Monday.
The dispute stemmed from PENGASSAN’s allegations of mass transfers and dismissals targeting its members, alongside claims that some Nigerian staff were being replaced with foreign workers. The union argued that these actions contravened labour laws and undermined local employment rights.
Dangote Refinery management denied the allegations, insisting the workforce restructuring was based on operational needs and not union activity.
The standoff escalated when PENGASSAN halted gas and crude oil supply to the refinery, sparking fears of disruptions to Nigeria’s energy supply and broader economic stability.
The Federal Government intervened, warning of “adverse effects on the economy and energy security,” before brokering the truce that now paves the way for redeployment of affected workers and restoration of industrial peace.
