After an initial stalemate, the federal government has finally brokered peace in the dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.If You’re Reading From Phoenix Click On Read Original at the top To Read Full Article
This is as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) announced the suspension of the strike.
According to a statement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, on Wednesday morning, the dispute was resolved after all the parties came to an agreement on the areas of contention.
The statement reads, “The Hon Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria, and this right should be respected.
“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately begin the process of redeploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.
“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.
“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”
The government delegation at the meeting included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Dingyadi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
The others were the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi; and the Director-General of the NIA, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
Strike suspension
Meanwhile, the suspension of industrial action was announced by PENGASSAN president, Festus Osifo, Wednesday, warning that the union would not hesitate to embark on another strike if the Dangote Refinery reneges on the agreement.
The PENGASSAN president noted that it conceded to persuasion from the government despite its doubt of the Refinery’s sincerity.
“We are only suspending, not calling off this strike.”
“If any part of this agreement is broken, we will not give any warning. We will immediately resume our suspended industrial action,” Osifo said, stressing that the industrial action was part of its responsibility to “to secure better welfare and fair pay,” he added.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
