Dangote Petroleum Refinery has expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his decisive role in resolving the recent industrial dispute between the refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The company lauded the President’s mediation efforts, along with the interventions of top government officials, which led to the suspension of the union’s disruptive actions and restored normal operations at the multi-billion-dollar refinery complex.
Tinubu’s Intervention Brings Calm to Labour Tensions
In a statement released on Sunday, the Dangote Refinery credited President Tinubu’s administration, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministers of Labour and Employment, for demonstrating “patriotism and national service” in addressing the crisis.
“We remain very grateful to these officials for their patriotism and national service,” the statement read. “Their intervention resulted in the abatement of the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN against the Dangote refinery.”
The Dangote refinery described the intervention as timely and critical in averting a potential energy disruption that could have had far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s fuel supply and economic stability. It further thanked Nigerians for their support during the standoff, noting that the public’s encouragement “reinforced our belief in the Nigerian nation and its people as the backbone of our enterprise.”
PENGASSAN Row: Background to the Industrial Dispute
The dispute began after PENGASSAN accused the Dangote Refinery of unfair labour practices, including the alleged termination of over 800 Nigerian workers and resistance to unionisation efforts. The union consequently issued a notice to halt gas supply to the Dangote refinery and initiated a nationwide strike to press its demands.
Initial talks between both parties ended in a deadlock, prompting the Federal Government to escalate the matter to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). A reconciliation meeting, chaired by Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi, later brought together key stakeholders including the Ministers of Finance, Petroleum Resources, and Economic Planning, as well as heads of the DSS and NIA.
The breakthrough came after hours of negotiation, culminating in PENGASSAN suspending its industrial action and pledging to resume dialogue with the Dangote refinery’s management in good faith.
Dangote Refinery Reassures Nigerians of Uninterrupted Production
In its closing remarks, Dangote Refinery reaffirmed its dedication to national service and economic growth, assuring Nigerians that operations would continue unhindered.
“Our commitment to the Nigerian nation and our pact with its people remain undiluted, undiminished, and unalterable notwithstanding distractions from detractors and saboteurs,” the company stated.
The Dangote refinery also commended its workforce for maintaining full operational efficiency throughout the crisis. “To our loyal workers who ensured that our operations were not disrupted even for a second, we thank and appreciate you,” the statement added.
Dangote Refinery emphasized that it would continue to resist “economic rent seekers and saboteurs” while focusing on its goal of ensuring a steady supply of petroleum products to the Nigerian market.
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