The ongoing conciliation meeting between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery has been moved to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Officials at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment confirmed the development to journalists who had gathered at the ministry’s conference room, where the meeting was originally scheduled to hold at 2 pm this afternoon.
The change of venue means the session may not commence at the earlier communicated time.
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The talks follow an intensive nine-hour meeting that stretched from 3 pm yesterday until midnight. The meeting ended without full resolution, leading to today’s reconvening aimed at settling the lingering labour dispute between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had earlier disclosed that most issues had been resolved, except for two critical matters: the reinstatement of 800 sacked workers and recognition of workers’ rights to unionise.
The ministers also noted that PENGASSAN has consistently demonstrated peaceful and responsible conduct in its actions and engagements as a trade union.
They expressed hope that both the union and Dangote Refinery would display good faith and sportsmanship when the meeting reconvenes.
They also expressed optimism that these outstanding issues would be resolved quickly in the interest of the economy, warning that the strike embarked upon by PENGASSAN could cripple economic activity if allowed to persist.
On its part, the PENGASSAN delegation led by its National President, Comrade Festus Osifo, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to dialogue but warned that the strike would continue if Dangote Refinery refuses to reinstate the 800 workers and uphold unionisation rights.
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