FG Summons PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery to Emergency Meeting

FG Summons PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery to Emergency Meeting

The Federal Government has waded into the brewing crisis between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of the Dangote Refinery, summoning both parties to an emergency meeting in Abuja.

The intervention, according to sources at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, followed reports of heightened tension over unresolved disagreements bordering on staff welfare, union recognition, and operational policies at Africa’s largest refinery.

The Ministry said the meeting, scheduled for this week, is aimed at averting an escalation of the dispute which could disrupt operations at the multi-billion-dollar facility, regarded as a strategic national asset.

A senior official at the ministry, who confirmed the development, noted that the government was committed to ensuring industrial harmony in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

“The refinery is too critical to Nigeria’s energy security and economic stability for any form of disruption. We have called both parties to the table to address the grey areas and find an amicable solution,” the official said.

While PENGASSAN has accused the refinery’s management of unfair labour practices and refusal to fully engage with union representatives, the Dangote Refinery has insisted it is operating within the law and maintaining global best practices.

The outcome of the meeting is expected to determine the next phase of engagement between both sides, with analysts warning that a prolonged standoff could have ripple effects on Nigeria’s refining ambitions and fuel supply chain.