The Federal Government has waded into the escalating row between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), in a bid to avert a nationwide fuel supply disruption.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting of the Steering Committee on Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency, where the union dispute was discussed extensively.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, has invited both parties to an emergency conciliation meeting today in Abuja, urging the union to withdraw its strike notice.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of the economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians,” Dingyadi said.
He assured that government would resolve the crisis peacefully, stressing that its priority remained energy security, consumer protection, and market stability.
In a statement, Dangote Refinery condemned PENGASSAN’s strike threat, describing it as an act of “economic sabotage” aimed at undermining a national asset.
“We must not allow the association and its co-conspirators to sabotage and imperil the economic recovery and energy security of the country. The economic recovery of Nigeria must not be derailed or reversed by PENGASSAN,” the refinery said.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, who also leads the Trade Union Congress (TUC), accused Dangote of illegally sacking over 800 workers for joining the union.
“This is not a banana republic. Over 800 Nigerians who subscribed to PENGASSAN were issued sack letters simply because they chose to belong to a union. That is unacceptable. Until those workers are recalled, this strike will continue,” Osifo said during a televised interview.
He dismissed claims of sabotage, arguing that the real threat came from “flagrant violations of Nigeria’s labour laws by Dangote Refinery.”
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) warned that the dispute could also affect electricity supply, given the reliance on gas-fired power generation.
Energy expert Dr. Muda Yusuf also described the strike call as “a disproportionate response” that could undermine economic stability.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), however, backed PENGASSAN, demanding the reinstatement of all affected workers and an independent probe into the refinery’s labour practices.
Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, condemned the strike call, describing it as “sabotage against the Nigerian people.”
He urged Nigerians to resist attempts to hold the nation hostage, insisting that the refinery was crucial to national economic recovery.
The Edun-led committee reaffirmed that the crude-for-naira initiative will continue, assuring Nigerians that fuel supply remains stable for now.
“The government is committed to sustaining stability in the petroleum products market. All outstanding issues, particularly the dispute between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery, are being addressed with urgency,” the committee said.
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