The meeting between the delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery over the lingering industrial dispute ended in a deadlock.
The reconciliation meeting, organized by the Federal Government, began about 4 p.m. Monday.
The meeting, which included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, lasted around nine hours into the early hours of Tuesday.
Following the standoff, Dingyadi announced that the group would reconvene at 2 p.m. on Tuesday to settle the impasse.
The Federal Government, concerned about the potential impact of the disagreement on the nation’s economy and energy security, summoned both sides to the bargaining table following reports of widespread discontent.
PENGASSAN has accused Dangote Refinery of mass transferring and firing union members, causing the schism.
Furthermore, he allegedly replaced certain Nigerians with foreign nationals, an allegation that the firm has constantly disputed.
The session, which had been set for 2 p.m., began about 3:50 p.m. due to the late arrival of key players, before transitioning into a closed-door discussion that lasted several hours.
In his opening remarks, Dingyadi highlighted the gravity of the issue.
“What’s happening today is very dear to our economy and to the security of the country. We have been informed that PENGASSAN is on strike,” he said.
The minister urged all parties to engage in constructive conversation, emphasizing the importance of industrial peace in the oil and gas industry at a time when Nigeria relies on the Dangote Refinery to increase local refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
The standoff means that tensions remain high, with PENGASSAN saying that its members will not return to work until alleged anti-labor practices are corrected, and Dangote Refinery claiming that its restructuring exercise is consistent with worldwide best practices.
As the deadlock persists, concerns grow about the potential disruption of operations at the refinery and the resulting impact on petroleum product delivery across the country.
The next round of discussions, scheduled for later today, will determine whether a solution can be struck to avoid a full-fledged industrial crisis in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
