PENGASSAN, Dangote Nine-Hour Meeting Ends in Deadlock

PENGASSAN, Dangote Nine-Hour Meeting Ends in Deadlock

Efforts to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery stalled on Monday, as a reconciliation meeting convened by the Federal Government ended without resolution.

The meeting, which commenced around 4 p.m. and extended into the early hours of Tuesday, was attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha. Despite nearly nine hours of deliberations, no agreement was reached.

Following the impasse, Minister Dingyadi announced that negotiations would resume at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in a bid to break the deadlock.

The Federal Government had summoned both parties amid growing concerns over the economic and energy implications of the dispute. At the heart of the conflict are allegations by PENGASSAN that the refinery engaged in mass transfers and dismissals of union members, replacing some Nigerian workers with foreign nationals—a claim the company has repeatedly denied.

Although the session was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., it began at approximately 3:50 p.m. due to delays in the arrival of key stakeholders. The meeting then proceeded behind closed doors.

In his opening remarks, Dingyadi emphasized the urgency of the situation: “What’s happening today is very dear to our economy and to the security of the country. We have been informed that PENGASSAN is on strike.”

He urged both sides to approach the dialogue with sincerity, noting that industrial harmony in the oil and gas sector is vital, especially as Nigeria looks to the Dangote Refinery to enhance domestic refining and reduce reliance on imported fuel.

With PENGASSAN maintaining that its members will not resume work until alleged anti-labour actions are addressed, and Dangote Refinery defending its restructuring as consistent with global standards, tensions remain high.

As the stalemate continues, fears are growing over potential disruptions to refinery operations and the broader impact on fuel supply nationwide. The outcome of today’s follow-up meeting may prove pivotal in averting a deeper crisis in Nigeria’s energy sector.