PENGASSAN Suspends Strike After FG’s Intervention, Warns Dangote of Immediate Return

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery after the intervention of the Federal Government.

However, the union warned that the suspension is only temporary, stressing that any breach of the agreement by the refinery would lead to an immediate resumption of industrial action.

The strike, which began on Sunday, had disrupted sections of Nigeria’s oil and gas operations, sparking concerns about wider economic consequences.

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, announced the suspension on Wednesday in Abuja after marathon negotiations between the union, government officials, and representatives of the Dangote Group.

The talks, convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, reportedly lasted until the early hours of Wednesday before both sides agreed to a truce.

Speaking at a press conference, Osifo made it clear that the union remains deeply sceptical about the sincerity of the Dangote Group.

“We are only suspending, not calling off this strike,” Osifo declared.

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“If any part of this agreement is broken, we will not give any warning. We will immediately resume our suspended industrial action.”

He stressed that the action was rooted in the fundamental rights of workers to freedom of association and fair pay.

The PENGASSAN leader accused the refinery’s management of displaying disregard for established labour rules and warned that the union would not tolerate repeated anti-union practices.

“Yes, we understand that Dangote does not respect the rules of engagement. Yes, we understand that Dangote wants to prove that he is always bigger than the rules and above the law. We truly don’t believe that he will keep to his own side of the bargain. But because we have respect for institutions, because we have respect for government, because we have respect for processes… the NEC has decided to listen to them,” Osifo said.

He added that the decision to suspend the strike was a demonstration of the union’s patriotism.

“Even with our misgivings that the document did not clearly represent what we asked for, the National Executive Council has decided to take the moral high ground to suspend the industrial action that we started on Sunday, September 28, 2025,” he explained.

Osifo warned that PENGASSAN’s patience must not be mistaken for weakness.

“We will be monitoring and following closely on any slip on the part of Dangote. If any part of this communique as put up by the Ministry of Labour is broken, we will not give any notice, we will not give any warning, and we will resume the suspended industrial action immediately,” he warned.

The Dangote Refinery, which was commissioned in 2023 with a touted capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has faced recurring disputes with oil sector unions.

Its sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has also previously accused the conglomerate of anti-union practices, raising questions about the refinery’s labour relations culture.

For PENGASSAN, Osifo reiterated that the battle was not about politics but about workers’ rights.

“This dispute is about the fundamental right of workers to join a union and to be fairly treated. We will not compromise on that,” he insisted.