The Federal Government has confirmed that the Dangote Group will redeploy workers previously disengaged from its refinery operations, following a resolution of a dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). This announcement was made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, on October 1, 2025.
In his statement, Dingyadi assured that the redeployed workers would not experience any loss of pay. “After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately begin the process of redeploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay,” he stated.
The minister emphasized that the rights of workers to unionize must be respected, aligning with Nigerian labor laws. He noted that both the Dangote Group and PENGASSAN had reached a compromise, with the union agreeing to start the process of calling off a strike that had halted gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery.
The dispute arose after PENGASSAN raised concerns about mass transfers and dismissals of union members, alleging that the company was replacing Nigerian employees with foreign workers. The Dangote Group denied these allegations, claiming the reorganization was due to operational needs.
The standoff prompted the Federal Government to intervene, citing potential risks to the nation’s energy supply and economic stability. High-level consultations were convened to facilitate a resolution to the conflict.
This development follows a series of conciliatory meetings aimed at addressing the issues and ensuring the stability of operations at the Dangote refinery, a critical component of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
