The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Thursday denied signing the communiqué that ended its recent strike against Dangote Refinery.
BusinessTodayNG reported on Wednesday that the union suspended its nationwide strike after government intervention, but insisted its concerns were not fully addressed.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, who made this disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, said the document presented at the meeting was not an agreement.
“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 we felt that some things in it were not okay with us,” he said, just as it also added that the statement was only a communication from the Minister of Labour and Employment, acting as chief conciliator.
“When we subjected it to our NEC, we had to decide on priorities. Some media houses claimed we were only interested in check-up dues.
“That is false. What we prioritised was how our members would return to work and provide for their families.”
According to Osifo, PENGASSAN’s position was clear: “Take the people back to the refinery.”
He added that Dangote initially refused to reabsorb the disengaged workers until the government pushed for a compromise.
Osifo dismissed Dangote’s claims of sabotage by the sacked employees.
PENGASSAN President emphasised that the union’s fight was not about itself but about Nigerian workers whose employments were abruptly terminated for exercising their right to association.
“The release that Dangote made on workers sabotaging the economy was totally incorrect. If we had allowed that sabotage tag to stand, those 800 people would not be able to secure jobs in the future.
“That stigma would remain forever,” he lamented, noting that “Clearing that was a very big win. We are not perturbed in any way.”
“If Dangote does not do the needful, our tools are always available. We will never get tired of struggling for what is right. We have been around for 50 years before the Dangote Refinery came on stream, ”Osifo added.
