The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has stated that it did not sign the communiqué that led to the suspension of its nationwide strike against the Dangote Refinery.

Although the union suspended its industrial action on Wednesday after Federal Government intervention, PENGASSAN maintained that several of its demands remain unresolved. The strike, which began on Sunday, was triggered by the alleged illegal dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers and their replacement with more than 2,000 Indians.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo warned that the strike could resume at any time if the refinery failed to meet the resolutions reached. He admitted there were “grey areas” in the communiqué, adding that the union suspended the strike in good faith.

On Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Osifo clarified: “If you see that communiqué, we did not sign it. Normally, it is supposed to be signed by three parties. We did not sign because we felt that some things in it were not okay with us.” He explained that the document was essentially a statement from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, who acted as conciliator.

“When we subjected it to our NEC, we had to decide on priorities. Some media houses claimed we were only interested in check-off dues. That is false. What we prioritised was how our members would return to work and provide for their families,” he said.

Osifo insisted that reinstating the sacked workers remained PENGASSAN’s priority. He dismissed Dangote’s earlier claim that the employees were sabotaging the economy, describing it as baseless. “The release that Dangote made on workers sabotaging the economy was totally incorrect. If we had allowed that sabotage tag to stand, those 800 people would not be able to secure jobs in the future. That stigma would remain forever. Clearing that was a very big win. We are not perturbed in any way.”

He further emphasised that the struggle was not for personal gain but to defend Nigerian workers’ rights. Warning of possible renewed action, Osifo declared: “If Dangote does not do the needful, our tools are always available. We will never get tired of struggling for what is right. We have been around for 50 years before the Dangote Refinery came on stream.”

The standoff in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has eased as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) suspended its two-day strike against Dangote Refinery following a major breakthrough.

This resolution came after the refinery agreed to reinstate employees who were dismissed for joining the union.

The agreement was reached during a two-day meeting held on Monday and Tuesday between the Federal Government, PENGASSAN, and Dangote Refinery.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, emphasised that “the right of workers to unionise in accordance with Nigerian law must be respected.”

The communique issued after the meeting highlighted three main outcomes: the immediate reabsorption of sacked workers, suspension of the strike by PENGASSAN, and assurance against workers’ victimisation.

“Reabsorption of Workers: The Dangote Group management will immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay,” the communique read.

“No Victimisation: Both sides agreed that “no worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse.”

PENGASSAN also confirmed that it would “start the process of calling off the strike.”

The union had on Sunday declared a nationwide strike, directing members to halt crude oil and gas supply to Dangote Refinery in protest against the sacking of employees who voluntarily joined the association.