Aliko Dangote, Wale Edun, PENGASSAN currently meeting over labour dispute

Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote refinery, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) are currently meeting over the ongoing labour dispute, TheCable understands.

The meeting, which was moved to the office of the national security adviser (NSA), follows the failure of earlier talks between the two parties to resolve the lingering industrial dispute.

Abubakar Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning. Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment, and representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), are present at the meeting.

The ministry of labour first convened a reconciliation session on Monday, with Dingyadi and Nkiruka Onyejeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, in attendance.

On September 29, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called on the management of Dangote refinery to reverse the employment termination of “over 800 Nigerian employees”.

The directive comes amid a dispute between the refinery and PENGASSAN over the mass dismissal of employees.

PENGASSAN, on September 26, instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike over the dismissal.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, Dangote refinery asked Nigerians to stand against the PENGASSAN and the TUC over the industrial action against the company.

The refinery described the TUC as “zombie-like” for declaring full solidarity with PENGASSAN and threatening a nationwide strike “without making any effort to verify the claims on which the action was based”.