PENGASSAN announces suspension of its strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike that began on Monday, September 27, over its disagreement with Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical.

PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, while announcing the suspension in Abuja this afternoon, said the union chose to suspend the strike out of respect for national institutions and the mediation effort by the federal government.

The oil workers expressed dissatisfaction with parts of the government’s publicised communique on the matter, but, however, said it will immediately resume the suspended industrial action without notice should there be any breach by the Dangote Refinery.

“We still suspect Dangote may not keep faith with the terms, but we are giving government the benefit of the doubt. Should there be any breach, we will immediately resume the suspended action without notice,” Osifo warned

The union had called for the strike after Dangote refinery sacked 800 of its workers for forming a union in the organization, an act it does not permit. The sacked workers alleged that Dangote sacked the 800 Nigerian workers and went ahead to employ 200- Indian nationals in its establishment.

Following the intervention of the Federal Government, a compromise was reached in the early hours of Tuesday. Among the agreements reached is that Dangote is expected to reabsorb the dismissed workers. 

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