By Charles Pemu 
The imminent energy crisis triggered by the feud between Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has been resolved, leading to the immediate recall of the over 800 disengaged staff.
The resolution, reached after marathon conciliation meetings convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, stipulates that the sacked workers will be deployed to other companies within the Dangote Group with no loss of pay.
The two-day meeting on Monday, September 29th, and Tuesday, September 30th, 2025, was held at the instance of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and was convened as a direct response to PENGASSAN’s notice to stop gas supply to the refinery and withdraw services nationwide.
The significance of the dispute was reflected in the high-profile attendance at the meeting, which included the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Ministers of Labour and Employment and Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and the Directors-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Also present were the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Chief Executives of NMDPRA and NUPRC, representatives of NNPCL, the management of Dangote Group, and the national leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and PENGASSAN.
Terms of the Resolution
A joint communique, signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, detailed the terms of the agreement.
Whereas the leadership of PENGASSAN said the directive to stop gas supply and withdraw services was in response to the termination of the appointment of over Eight Hundred members, the management of Dangote Refinery explained the disengagement was due to an “ongoing reorganization in the company.”
After a lengthy discussion, the matter was resolved. The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and must be respected. The meeting then agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of deploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.
Both parties further agreed that no worker will be victimized arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN. Consequently, PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.