The showdown between Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals and oil workers’ union PENGASSAN has ended in a dramatic climbdown, with the company agreeing to recall 800 sacked employees after a two-day marathon meeting brokered by the federal government.
The crunch talks, held at the Office of the National Security Adviser on September 29th and 30th, brought together some of the most powerful players in government and labour. On the table was PENGASSAN’s threat to cut gas supply to the multi-billion-dollar refinery and withdraw services over the mass sackings.
In the end, Dangote bowed to pressure. A communiqué signed by Labour Minister Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi confirmed that the disengaged workers would be redeployed within other Dangote Group companies, without loss of pay, and that no one involved in the standoff would be victimised.
It 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.”
It further stated: “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,” the communiqué added.
With the truce sealed, PENGASSAN has begun the process of calling off its crippling strike — a move that saves the refinery from a full-blown shutdown and hands workers a resounding victory.
