Talks between the Nigerian govt, PENGASSAN, and Dangote Refinery ended in deadlock, with labour tensions rising despite federal intervention.
The much-anticipated reconciliation meeting between the Nigerian government, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the management of the Dangote Refinery ended in a stalemate on Monday night. Despite hours of negotiations that stretched past midnight, no resolution was reached.
The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, brought together key stakeholders, including the leadership of PENGASSAN, representatives of the Dangote Refinery, the Minister of Finance, and top officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Originally scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Abuja, the talks began late at around 3:50 p.m. due to delayed arrivals and concluded shortly after midnight without any agreement. However, discussions are expected to continue on Tuesday, September 30, at 2:00 p.m.
Background of the Dispute
PENGASSAN had earlier directed its members to disrupt operations at the Dangote Refinery, accusing the company of sacking union members and engaging in anti-labour practices. The union also alleged discrimination against Nigerian workers while vowing to cut gas and crude oil supply to the refinery.
In its response, Dangote Refinery dismissed the threats as unlawful, stating that PENGASSAN had no legal authority to interfere with contracts signed with third-party suppliers. The company urged the federal government to step in, warning that the union’s actions could damage the Nigerian economy and affect millions of citizens.
Federal Government’s Intervention
The Nigerian government has been working to mediate between the two sides to prevent the dispute from escalating further. Over the weekend, both the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and the Ministry of Labour appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend its planned strike.
Despite these interventions, PENGASSAN proceeded on Monday to block entry points at key oil and gas regulatory agencies, including the NNPC Ltd, NMDPRA, and NUPRC headquarters. Protest banners carried messages such as “Dangote Must Obey” and “Dangote is Not Bigger than the Country.”
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining PENGASSAN from cutting crude and gas supply to the Dangote Refinery.
Rising Labour Tensions
In solidarity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its affiliate unions to mobilise for possible nationwide action against the Dangote Group. The situation remains tense as stakeholders await the outcome of the resumed talks.