The Federal Government has urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, to reconsider its planned strike scheduled to begin on Monday over its dispute with Dangote Refinery.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, in a statement on Sunday, said the ministry had taken steps to bring both parties to a roundtable to prevent the dispute from escalating.
According to the statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour, Patience Onuobia, invitations have been extended to PENGASSAN leadership and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency conciliation meeting in the minister’s office on Monday.
“The Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of her economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses by the country but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians. Consequentially, it will have adverse impacts, both on economic stability and national security,” Dingyadi stated.
