Nigeria TV Info 

PENGASSAN Suspends Nationwide Strike Following Agreement with Dangote Refinery

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has officially suspended its nationwide strike against Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The decision follows a series of negotiations mediated by the Nigerian federal government, aimed at resolving the labor dispute that had disrupted operations across the oil and gas sector.

Background of the Dispute

The industrial action commenced on Sunday, September 28, 2025, in response to the dismissal of over 800 workers at Dangote Refinery. The affected employees had recently joined PENGASSAN, prompting the union to allege that the layoffs were retaliatory and violated workers' rights to unionize. Dangote Refinery, on the other hand, described the terminations as part of a necessary staff reorganization and accused the dismissed workers of sabotage .

Government Mediation and Agreement

The federal government intervened to mediate the dispute, convening a series of meetings involving key officials, including the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and other stakeholders from the Ministry of Finance, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

As a result of these discussions, an agreement was reached wherein Dangote Group committed to reabsorbing the dismissed workers into other companies within the Dangote conglomerate, ensuring no loss of pay and no victimization related to their involvement in the dispute .

Union's Conditional Suspension of Strike

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, announced the suspension of the strike during a press briefing in Abuja, emphasizing that the decision was made out of respect for the federal government's mediation efforts. However, Osifo cautioned that the suspension was conditional and that the union would not hesitate to resume the strike without notice if the terms of the agreement were violated .

Implications and Outlook

The suspension of the strike has alleviated immediate concerns over disruptions in Nigeria's oil production and refined product distribution. However, the situation remains fragile, and both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery are expected to adhere to the terms of the agreement to maintain industrial harmony. The federal government has expressed its commitment to monitoring the implementation of the agreement to prevent any recurrence of the dispute.