Labour Minister Gives Update on Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN Ongoing Crisis

By Odekunle Doyin
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, has waded into the ongoing crisis between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), stressing that the dispute must be resolved in the interest of Nigerians, the economy, workers and employers.
Dingyadi, who chaired a high-level meeting between the refinery management, union leaders, and key oil and gas stakeholders, urged both sides to embrace dialogue over confrontation.
“We want to resolve these issues amicably, for the good of everybody, for the good of our economy, for the good of the security of our nation, and for the good of our workers, and for the good of our employers as well,” the minister said.
The meeting, slated for 2:30 p.m. on Monday, eventually began around 4 p.m.. As of press time, it was unclear whether the talks had concluded.
Court Order and Escalating Tensions
The intervention comes days after Dangote Refinery secured an interim court order restraining PENGASSAN from disrupting its operations.
PENGASSAN had earlier directed its members to cut off gas and crude oil supply to the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, demanding the recall of workers allegedly dismissed for belonging to the union.
The refinery, however, accused the union of employing “bully and terror tactics” to press its demands.
Why It Matters
The standoff has raised concerns about possible disruptions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, at a time when the country is banking on the $20bn Dangote Refinery to stabilise domestic fuel supply and reduce dependence on imports.