BREAKING: Dangote Bows To Pressure, Recalls Sacked Refinery Workers After Govt, PENGASSAN Talks

In a dramatic twist that averted what could have been a crippling crisis in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Dangote Group has agreed to recall refinery workers it recently sacked, following an intense round of peace negotiations with the Federal Government and labour leaders.

The breakthrough was sealed on Wednesday after two days of high-stakes meetings between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, officials of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the refinery’s management team.

The resolution not only paves the way for industrial peace but also prompted PENGASSAN to suspend its two-day nationwide strike, which had threatened to choke crude and gas supplies to the multibillion-dollar Dangote Refinery.

In a joint communiqué, the Dangote Group committed to rehiring the disengaged workers without loss of pay, with provisions to redeploy some staff across its vast conglomerate. Both sides further agreed that no worker would face victimisation or reprisals for their role in the dispute.

Minister Dingyadi, who presided over the meetings, reminded stakeholders that Nigeria’s labour laws unequivocally guarantee the right of workers to unionise. He stressed that respect for workers’ rights was non-negotiable if the country was to maintain industrial harmony.

PENGASSAN, which had declared a strike on Sunday to protest the dismissal of refinery workers, confirmed that it would immediately commence the process of calling off its action.

With tensions now eased, the resolution is expected to stabilise the oil and gas industry, which had been rattled by fears of supply disruptions and potential nationwide fuel scarcity.

The recall of the workers marks a significant victory for organised labour and underscores the delicate balance between corporate power and workers’ rights in Nigeria’s fast-evolving energy sector.