The Federal government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has commenced the reconciliation meeting, aimed to resolve the ongoing dispute among Dangote Refinery and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENSASSAN).
The meeting which is chaired by Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of Labour and Employment, has leadership of PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery, Minister of Finance, and key directors of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in attendance.
In his remarks, Dingyadi said that the meeting was crucial to ensure that the dispute does not have adverse effect on the Nigerian population.
Read also: PENGASSAN strike ground activities in NUPRC, NNPC, NMDPRA
He also expressed shock that the Association’s strike was ongoing, leaving oil and gas institutions under lock.
He said, “This is the realisation of the fact that what is happening today is cherished to this country, very dear to our economy. We have been informed that PENGASSAN is on strike, and a very serious one for that matter, because I never knew that they have closed NNPC itself, and other subsidiaries of oil and gas industry.
“I don’t want to make any judgment, but we didn’t know that this is the magnitude of the strike.
We know that PENGASSAN are very peaceful, and we know for a very long time and we consider them as friends, and people who wish this country well. We also have the same feeling for the Dangote group, they have been contributing to the economy of this country, and they have been doing very well in terms of business relationship with the government of this country.
“So, we want to make sure that what is happening now is not extended negatively to the people of this country. So, that’s why we are taking urgent steps to ensure that we come in as people who are in the middle of this journey to see how we can resolve this issue.
Read also: PENGASSAN members march to NNPC Towers to protest Dangote Refinery mass sack
“We want to resolve these issues amicably, for the good of everybody, for the good of our economy, for the good of the security of our nation, and for the good of our workers, and for the good of our employers as well.”
The strike action which commenced on Monday, affected activities in some oil and gas institutions, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Staff of these institutions who confirmed the development to BusinessDay said they were denied access into their offices upon resumption.
