Dangote

The Federal Government has resolved the dispute between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) after two days of conciliation meetings.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, announced the outcome in a statement issued early Wednesday, noting that the talks produced key agreements.

According to the statement, the parties agreed that unionisation is a fundamental right of workers under Nigerian law and must be respected.

On the issue of staff disengagement, the meeting resolved that the management of Dangote Group will immediately begin redeploying affected employees to other companies within the group, without any loss of pay.

The statement also affirmed that no worker would face victimisation over their role in the dispute.

PENGASSAN, on its part, pledged to commence the process of calling off its strike action, while both sides committed to implementing the resolutions in good faith.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery was forced to shut down operations on Sunday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) enforced a labour decision following the alleged mass dismissal of over 800 workers.

The development marks a further escalation in the dispute between the union and the management of Africa’s largest refining facility, located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos.

According to updates from PENGASSAN, the refinery has been completely shut down, with the fertiliser plant’s Train Two also fully halted, while Train One is operating at only 60 per cent capacity. The diesel plant, however, remains operational.

The union, which directed its members to down tools after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27, said the shutdown extends beyond the refinery to other oil installations across the country. Crude oil and gas supply to the plant have also been disrupted.

PENGASSAN’s decision follows the dismissal of hundreds of workers allegedly for their involvement with the union. In a circular signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the association described the action as a necessary response to “anti-labour practices,” vowing not to resume operations until the sacked workers are reinstated and negotiations are held.

Reacting to the union’s move, Dangote Refinery described the directive as “economic sabotage” in a statement issued on Saturday. The company, however, has yet to officially confirm the extent of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has called on both parties to engage in dialogue and resolve the dispute through peaceful negotiation.

Since its partial commissioning, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery has been central to Nigeria’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and stabilise domestic supply.Nigerian real estate

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the termination of appointment of all its Nigerian staff.

The mass sack is happening less than 24 hours after majority of the workers joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

In a memo signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the company said the action was part of a “total re-organisation” following alleged sabotage across several units of the refinery. Affected workers were ordered to return all company property and proceed for clearance.

The development has heightened tensions in the oil and gas sector, with PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery already in a long-running dispute over unionisation rights.

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