Dare Babalola
The Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have ended the labour dispute between them.
The Federal Government has brokered peace between the company and the union, putting an end to the strike that had threatened fuel supply stability.
After two days of talks on Monday and Tuesday, the parties reached an agreement that disengaged workers will be reabsorbed into other Dangote Group companies, with no loss of pay.
The conciliation meeting was convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, following a directive by PENGASSAN to cut off gas supply and withdraw services from the refinery after more than 800 staff were terminated.
The high-level session was attended by the National Security Adviser, the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Labour and Employment, and State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), as well as the Directors-General of the DSS and the NIA.
In his remarks, Dr. Dingyadi reminded both parties that “the right of workers to unionise in accordance with Nigerian law must be respected.”
After a lengthy discussion, the parties resolved that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.
The meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay, and no workers will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.
PENGASSAN, however, agreed to start the process of calling off the strike.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting reads; “Whereas the leadership of PENGASSAN said that the directives given to stop the supply of gas to Dangote Petroleum and withdrawal of services was in response to the termination of appointment of over eight hundred members of PENGASSAN by the management of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical on the other hand, explained the reason for disengagement of the workers was as a result of the ongoing reorganization in the company.
“After a lengthy discussion, the matter was resolved as follows: The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.
“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay. No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN. PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith,” it said.
