The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its 3-Day industrial action after the intervention of the Federal Government.
PENGASSAN declared the industrial action on Monday, following what it described as an unjust sack of 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote refinery.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, however, disclosed at a press briefing on Wednesday that the decision to suspend the strike followed an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), which resolved to suspend the strike to allow the implementation of agreements reached during negotiations.
According to him, the move was also taken as a mark of respect for the Federal Government’s efforts in resolving the crisis.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, confirmed the truce, saying the Dangote Group has agreed to unionisation and will reabsorb the affected refinery workers into other companies within the Group without any loss of pay.
He assured that no worker would be victimised over their role in the dispute.
The Federal Government’s mediation team included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; DG DSS, Adeola Ajayi; and DG NIA, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
