The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in resolving the recent industrial dispute between the refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
In a statement issued on Sunday, the refinery expressed gratitude to the President, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), and other senior government officials for what it described as their “patriotism and national service” in ending the standoff.
“Dangote Refinery is grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for his intervention, through his ministers and senior officials, which resulted in the abatement of the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN against the Refinery,” the statement read.
The company also thanked Nigerians for their solidarity, saying public support reinforced its confidence in the nation’s resilience.
“You gave us hope and strengthened our belief in the Nigerian people as the backbone of our enterprise,” the refinery said. “We will continue to serve in your interest and stand firm against rent seekers and economic saboteurs.”
The management further praised its workers for ensuring uninterrupted operations during the period of industrial tension. “To our loyal workers who ensured our operations were not disrupted even for a second, we thank and appreciate you,” it added.
The refinery reiterated its commitment to sustaining stable production and contributing to Nigeria’s energy security. “Our commitment to the Nigerian nation and our pact with its people remain undiluted, undiminished, and unalterable,” the statement said.
Last Wednesday, the Federal Government announced that the dispute between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery had been resolved following a reconciliation meeting led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi.
The meeting, which was initially deadlocked, was later moved to the Office of the National Security Adviser. Present were key cabinet officials, including the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and State for Labour and Petroleum Resources, as well as the Directors-General of the DSS and NIA.
The conflict stemmed from allegations of mass sackings and disagreements over unionisation rights, which led PENGASSAN to issue a notice to halt gas supply and withdraw services. Following the government’s intervention, the union suspended its industrial action.
Africa Digital News, New York
