Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Muhammadu Dingyadi
Amid rising tensions over alleged anti-labour practices at the Dangote Refinery, the Federal Government has called on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to reconsider its planned industrial action.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, issued the appeal in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, just hours before the strike was scheduled to begin.
PENGASSAN had earlier directed its members across the country to down tools starting midnight Sunday, protesting what it described as the unjust termination of Nigerian workers at the Lekki-based refinery. The union also accused the company’s management of discriminatory practices against local staff — allegations that have sparked national concern.
In response, the Labour Ministry said it has initiated steps to de-escalate the standoff.
> “The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday,” Dingyadi disclosed.
The minister emphasized the far-reaching implications of a shutdown in the petroleum sector, warning of the economic and social fallout such a move could trigger.
> “I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of her economy,” he said.
“A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause hardship for Nigerians. Its impact on economic stability and national security cannot be underestimated.”
Dingyadi urged the union to suspend the strike notice and give room for dialogue in an atmosphere of calm.
No official response has yet been issued by PENGASSAN or Dangote Refinery regarding the invitation to the reconciliation meeting.
