The Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) announced on Wednesday the suspension of the strike it had initiated over the disengagement of approximately 800 staff members by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.
PENGASSAN also warned that it would not hesitate to resume the strike if there is any breach by the Dangote Refinery.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, the President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, stated that the suspension of the strike, which began on Sunday, was intended to show respect to the various government agencies that intervened to broker peace.
He said that there were grey areas in the communiqué signed at the end of the conciliation by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi.
According to him: “And that is the communiqué that you have seen. And if you know that communiqué, it was signed by only the government because we were not satisfied with some of the things that were in that communiqué.
“But after examining the communiqué, we saw a lot of grey areas and a lot of loopholes in the communiqué, which we communicated to the government. They gave us assurances that they will be on top of this. All the questions we asked, all the issues we raised, they told us that we should not worry that they will be on top of it”, he said.
He stated that most Nigerians are ignorant of the fundamental issues that necessitated the strike in the first instance, saying PENGASSAN was not after check-up dues as alleged in some quarters, but to protect young oil and gas workers who voluntarily agreed to be part of the union.
He called on the Federal Government to urge the management of Dangote not to renege on the agreement, as such a stance would draw the wrath of workers in the oil and gas industry.
“Yes, we understand that Dangote does not respect the rules of engagement. We truly don’t believe that he will keep to his own side of the bargain. Still, because we have respect for institutions, because we have respect for government, because we have respect for processes and procedures, and because of those in government who sat up till almost 4 am this morning to try and resolve this subject, the NEC has decided to listen to them”, he added.
Recall that the meeting involving stakeholders in the oil and gas industry had to be shifted to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, last Tuesday night, where peace was brokered.
