Dangote–PENGASSAN Talks Hit Deadlock Despite FG Mediation
By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE
THE high-stakes reconciliation meeting between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery ended in a stalemate on Monday night, despite the intervention of the Federal Government.
The closed-door talks, held in Abuja and presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, alongside the Minister of State, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, began around 4 p.m. and dragged on for nearly nine hours, spilling into the early hours of Tuesday.
Multiple sources at the meeting disclosed that critical issues—including workers’ welfare, unionisation rights, and employment conditions—remained unresolved. Tensions reportedly rose as both sides stood their ground on key demands, leaving the dispute deadlocked.
Addressing reporters afterwards, Minister Dingyadi admitted that the discussions had reached an impasse but urged calm. He confirmed that negotiations would resume at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, stressing the need to prevent the dispute from escalating into a full-blown industrial crisis that could destabilise the downstream petroleum sector.
The deadlock prolongs uncertainty around one of Nigeria’s most strategic energy assets, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which has faced repeated labour disputes since its commissioning. Industry observers warn that without a compromise, the impasse could disrupt operations and undermine investor confidence in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
