FG brokers peace between PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery, strike set to end

Dangote Refinery
FG brokers peace between PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery, strike set to end
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Government has successfully mediated a resolution between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, leading to PENGASSAN agreeing to begin calling off its strike which began on September 29, 2025.
In a communique released after a two-day conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, it was disclosed that Dangote Refinery will initiate the process of relocating disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group with no loss of pay.
The Minister emphasised the importance of workers’ rights, stating, “Unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.”
The agreement also provided assurances that “No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN,” and confirmed that both parties “agreed to this understanding in good faith.”
The strike followed the termination of over 800 PENGASSAN members by Dangote Refinery, which the company described as part of an ongoing reorganisation.
Other key attendees at the talks included the Ministers of Finance and Budget, security chiefs, and officials from petroleum regulatory bodies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
This intervention not only ended the strike but also prevented national disruptions in gas supply linked to the refinery.
Dailyeconomy on Tuesday reported that Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) registered a significant drop in electricity generation on the national grid following industrial action by the PENGASSAN.
NISO stated that the action disrupted gas supply to power plants, leading to widespread shortages and a sharp decline in available generation capacity.