Why We Did Not Sign Communiqué To Suspend Strike – PENGASSAN

By Ayodele Oni

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has stated reasons why the suspended strike against Dangote Refinery management may resume very soon.

The union clarified that it did not sign the communiqué that supposedly ended its recent nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery, insisting that its concerns over the disengaged workers were not fully addressed.

Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, explained that the document was not an agreement between the parties.

Osifo stated: “If you see that communiqué, we did not sign it. Normally, it is supposed to be signed by three parties. We did not sign because we felt that some things in it were not okay with us,” he said.

He stressed that the document was merely a communication from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, acting as the chief conciliator.

The PENGASSAN boss further clarified the union’s  suspended the strike on Wednesday following government intervention:

“When we subjected it to our NEC, we had to decide on priorities. Some media houses claimed we were only interested in check-up dues. That is false. What we prioritised was how our members would return to work and provide for their families.”

He asserted that the union’s position remains clear: “Take the people back to the refinery.”

He noted that Dangote initially refused to reabsorb the disengaged workers until the government “pushed for a compromise.”

Osifo dismissed Dangote’s previous claims that the sacked employees engaged in “sabotage,” emphasizing that the union’s fight was for Nigerian workers whose employments were abruptly terminated for exercising their right to association.

He said clearing their names was a major victory:

“The release that Dangote made on workers sabotaging the economy was totally incorrect. If we had allowed that sabotage tag to stand, those 800 people would not be able to secure jobs in the future.

“That stigma would remain forever,” he lamented, adding that “Clearing that was a very big win. We are not perturbed in any way.”

The PENGASSAN boss warned that the strike could resume: “If Dangote does not do the needful, our tools are always available. We will never get tired of struggling for what is right. We have been around for 50 years before the Dangote Refinery came on stream.”

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, had confirmed that over 800 disengaged workers would be reassigned to Dangote Group subsidiaries without loss of pay, assuring that “Unionisation is a legal right of workers” and “No worker will be victimised for participating in the dispute.”

Despite the resolution, the union insists it will not hesitate to resume action if the agreement is dishonored.