The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike but warned that it would resume immediately if the Dangote Group fails to honour a government-brokered agreement.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to review the intervention in the dispute.
The strike followed the alleged dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Limited after they joined PENGASSAN.
Osifo described the sackings as a violation of workers’ constitutional rights and international labour standards, stressing that the union accepted a compromise only out of respect for government institutions.
“Our demand was simple: reinstate the workers. Government instead proposed redeployment within the Dangote Group. We reluctantly accepted, but if there’s any foul play, we’ll return to the trenches,” Osifo said.
He warned that PENGASSAN would not tolerate unfulfilled promises or prolonged delays, insisting that the union’s priority was to ensure the affected workers could return to work and support their families.
