The Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s standoff with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) showed no sign of resolution after a government-brokered meeting on Monday ended without progress.
A delegation from the union met with refinery representatives around 4:00 p.m., but the negotiations, attended by Minister of Labor and Employment Mohammed Dingyadi and Minister of State for Labor and Employment Nkiruka Onyejeocha, dragged on for nine hours until early Tuesday morning without producing an agreement, according to Punch.
Following the inconclusive talks, the labor minister announced that both delegations would reconvene at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday in an attempt to break the stalemate.
The Federal Government had called the parties to the table after widespread reports of discontent, citing concerns over the potential impact of the dispute on Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
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The clash stems from allegations by PENGASSAN that more than 800 Nigerian workers were dismissed from the $20 billion refinery after joining the union and subsequently replaced with expatriates.
The union has accused Dangote management of violating labor rights and discriminating against local employees.
In response, PENGASSAN demanded a halt to crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery, triggering major disruptions in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
The union escalated the dispute with a nationwide strike, gaining support from other groups in the downstream industry.
As a result, key energy institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), have been shut down.
Dangote Group has rejected the accusations, insisting the dismissals were part of a reorganization aimed at tackling sabotage within specific refinery facilities.
The company condemned the supply disruption, describing it as “economic sabotage.”
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Image Credit: Premium Times NG
