FG Brokers Peace Between PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery

By Chinedu Echianu

The Federal Government has successfully brokered peace between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, following days of industrial unrest.

PENGASSAN, which began a nationwide strike on Monday, September 29, 2025, in protest against the disengagement of over 800 of its members, has now agreed to commence the process of calling off the action. As part of the agreement, Dangote Refinery will redeploy the affected workers to other companies within the Dangote Group without any loss of pay.

The resolution was contained in a communique issued after a high-level conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi. The talks, which started at the minister’s office on Monday, September 29, continued the following day at the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

In the communique, Dingyadi emphasised that unionisation is a fundamental right of workers under Nigerian law and must be respected. He further noted that no employee would face victimisation for their role in the dispute.

Both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery agreed to the terms “in good faith,” paving the way for the suspension of the strike.

The meeting was attended by top government officials including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and representatives of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC Limited, NMDPRA, and NUPRC.

PENGASSAN had earlier directed its members to stop gas supply to Dangote Refinery and withdraw services nationwide, accusing the company of unfair labour practices. However, Dangote Management explained that the staff disengagement was part of an ongoing reorganisation process.

With this truce, operations at the refinery and across the oil and gas sector are expected to gradually return to normal.