PENGASSAN Suspends Dangote Refinery Strike After Agreement to Rehire Workers
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has temporarily suspended its nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery. This follows a reconciliatory meeting facilitated by the federal government, which resulted in an agreement to reabsorb disengaged workers into other Dangote Group companies without loss of pay.
The agreement, reached after negotiations involving high-ranking government officials and security agencies, aims to resolve a labor dispute that threatened fuel supply stability. PENGASSAN president Festus Osifo announced the suspension during a press conference in Abuja. However, some 'grey areas' in the agreement remain unclear to both the government and Dangote Refinery management.
Dangote Refinery, under the leadership of Aliko Dangote, has assured that dismissed workers will be rehired by other Dangote Group companies as per the agreement. The suspension is to allow for this process, but the exact date of rehiring is not specified. PENGASSAN has warned that it will resume the strike if Dangote Refinery fails to honor the agreement.
The temporary suspension of the strike is a positive step towards resolving the labor dispute at Dangote Refinery. The federal government's intervention and the agreement reached with PENGASSAN aim to ensure fuel supply stability. However, the successful implementation of the agreement, particularly the rehiring of dismissed workers, will be crucial in maintaining this peace.
