The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its industrial action, protesting the sack of over 800 members of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, who were laid off unceremoniously.
President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, announced the suspension today, in Abuja, warning the federal government that it took that path out of respect for the government and Nigerians, reports Daily Independent.
He said the Union would not hesitate to resume the strike if Dangote’s management reneges on the agreement to recall the affected staff.
Osifo said most Nigerians are ignorant of the real issues that necessitated the strike in the first instance, saying PENGASSAN was not after check-up dues as alleged in some quarters, but to protect young oil and gas workers who voluntarily agreed to be part of the union.
According to the PENGASSAN President, the federal government should prevail on Dangote not to renege on the agreement because such a stance would draw the wrath of workers in the oil and gas industry.
Recall that the meeting involving stakeholders in the oil and gas industry had to be shifted to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) last night, where they managed to broker a truce.
… developing story
