- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi has urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote refinery to give peace a chance in their ongoing feud as he invited both parties for a conciliation meeting.
Dingyadi in a statement issued on Sunday disclosed that invitations have been extended to both the leadership of PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency meeting in his office on Monday for the conciliation of their dispute.
This is coming under the heels of PENGASSAN directive on the suspension of gas and crude oil supply to Dangote over the refinery’s sacking of 800 workers for the alleged affiliation with the association.
NPO Reported that Dangote had in reaction slammed PENGASSAN, describing the directive as an act of lawlessness and economic sabotage.
Coupled the directive, PENGASSAN had announced plan to embark on nationwide strike today in protest against the alleged anti-labour activities of Dangote.
With the refinery calling on the Federal Government and necessary authorities to call the association to order, the Minister of Labour urged PENGASSAN to reconsider its proposed strike.
Dingyadi called on the leadership of PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration to allow his Ministry to conciliate the dispute in a peaceful atmosphere.
“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.” The Minister said.
He urged the feuding parties to give peace a chance, assuring them that the Federal Government would resolve the dispute amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved and in the national interest.