The Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy workers recently sacked by its petroleum refinery arm, following high-level reconciliation meetings convened by the federal government.
The resolution was announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in a statement detailing the outcome of talks held on Monday and Tuesday between Aliko Dangote, president of the group, representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and key government officials.
The meetings were presided over by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, alongside Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment.
According to the ministry, the parties agreed that all disengaged staff would be absorbed into other subsidiaries within the Dangote Group without any loss of pay. The ministry also disclosed that the right of workers to unionise in line with Nigerian labour laws must be respected.
It was further resolved that no affected worker would suffer victimisation for their role in the dispute, while PENGASSAN would begin the process of calling off its nationwide strike action. Dangote Group management was directed to immediately commence the redeployment of the workers.
The labour dispute erupted after PENGASSAN directed its members on September 26 to embark on a nationwide strike to protest the refinery’s dismissal of unionised staff. The latest understanding, according to the ministry, was reached “in good faith” by both parties to restore industrial harmony.
