PENGASSAN Suspends Strike But Says Issues Not Yet Fully Addressed
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN0 has suspended the strike it began on Sunday with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as the target but however noted that issues are not yet fully addressed.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that PENGASSAN President, Mr Festus Osifo, who announced this decision in Abuja on Wednesday, added that the strike was suspended following the mediating role played by the Federal Government.
Osifo said the union has taken the ‘moral high ground’ by bowing to government persuasion despite strong doubts about the sincerity of the Dangote Group.
‘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.
Yes, we understand that Dangote does not respect the rules of engagement. Yes, we understand that Dangote wants to prove that he is always bigger than the rules and above the law. Yes, we understand that today, we still have some members working within the confines of the refinery.
Yes, today, we still have some members working in some companies within the group. Yes, we know or we believe or we suspect that some of the things that the government has asked Dangote to do, that he’s going to slip in it and won’t do them just as he did it to NUPENG. We have our suspicion.
We truly don’t believe that he will keep to his own side of the bargain. We truly don’t believe that he will live up to expectations. We don’t believe. But because we have respect for institutions, because we have respect for government, because we have respect for processes, and because we have respect for procedures and because of those in government who sat up till almost 4 a.m. this morning to try and resolve this subject, the NEC has decided to listen to them. Even with our mutual suspicion that Dangote will not do what is right, even with our misgivings that the document did not clearly represent what we have asked for.
But even with the shortcomings in the document, the National Executive Council of PENGGASAN has decided that they will go ahead to take the moral high ground, that we will go ahead to prove to the government that we are extremely patriotic people, that love this country more than any single individual, that we will go ahead to suspend the industrial action that we started on Sunday, 28th day of September 2025’ he said.
Mr Osifo also clarified and asserted that the dispute between the union and Dangote Refinery centers on fundamental right of workers to freedom of association and fair pay.
‘Remember, we are only suspending and we didn’t call off. We will be monitoring and following closely on any slip on the part of Dangote. If any part of this agreement, or any part of this communique as put up by the Ministry of Labour, is broken, we will not give any notice, we will not give any warning, and we will resume the suspended industrial action immediately.
We have only suspended the industrial action in respect of the government of the land. As an institution, are we completely happy with what was provided? The answer for us is no’ he added-Team@orientactualmags.com
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