By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has insisted that it did not sign the communiqué that led to the suspension of its nationwide strike against the Dangote Refinery, warning that industrial action could resume without notice if outstanding issues remain unresolved.
Although the union suspended the strike on Wednesday following federal government intervention, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo said key grievances, especially the alleged illegal dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers and their replacement with over 2,000 foreign nationals, mostly Indians have not been addressed.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Osifo clarified that the communiqué circulated after the meeting was not a consensus document but a statement issued solely by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, who chaired the talks.
“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 some things in it were not okay with us,” Osifo said on Channels Television Thursday.
He explained that although there were “grey areas” in the document, the union suspended the strike in good faith to allow further dialogue.
However, he stressed that the action could be reinstated if the refinery fails to fulfill its commitments.
Responding to reports that the union’s priority was securing check-off dues, Osifo dismissed the claim as false.
“What we prioritised was how our members would return to work and provide for their families,” he said.
PENGASSAN is demanding the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers.
Osifo noted that the refinery initially refused to reabsorb them until the federal government intervened.
He also rejected accusations of economic sabotage against the workers, describing them as “totally incorrect.”
“The release that Dangote made on workers sabotaging the economy was totally incorrect… That stigma would remain forever. Clearing that was a very big win,” he stated.
Reaffirming the union’s resolve, Osifo added: “If Dangote does not do the needful, our tools are always available. We will never get tired of struggling for what is right.”
