The Dangote Group has agreed to rehire workers recently dismissed from its refinery following a peace meeting with stakeholders.
The resolution was announced on Wednesday following two days of peace talks between the Federal Government, PENGASSAN, and the refinery’s management.
The agreement has also led to the suspension of PENGASSAN’s two-day strike against the company.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, who presided over the meetings, reminded both parties that Nigerian law guarantees the right of workers to unionise and that such rights must be respected.
According to the communique issued after the meeting, the Dangote Group will immediately begin the process of reabsorbing disengaged staff into other companies within the conglomerate, with no loss of pay.
Both parties also agreed that no worker would be victimised for their role in the dispute, while PENGASSAN confirmed that it would begin the process of calling off its strike.
Politics: Nigeria recalls that PENGASSAN declared a strike on Sunday, directing its members to halt gas and crude supply to the Dangote Refinery in protest against the dismissal of workers.
The resolution is expected to ease tensions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which had been on edge since the industrial action was declared.
That is justice. The workers are not slaves that deserves respect and freedom to join union, not victimized. Kudos to the unions for standing for what is right and equally saving other workers who may be forced to suffer same fate. If dangote is allowed to get away with the evil other companies even the multinationals would follow suite. How would will best them to tie the line because what is good for one is good for another. Reason I was surprised people allowed sentiment to rule their judgement, propaganda and arm bush tactics employed by dangote groups throwing justice to the wind. The company did all they could to paint the unions in bad brush.