The Federal Government will resume peace talks today between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery as the nationwide strike enters a decisive stage.
According to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, the meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at the Minister’s Conference Room in Abuja. The ministry’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Patience Onuobia, confirmed the schedule in a notice issued on Tuesday morning.
Talks on Monday, chaired by Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi and Minister of State Nkiruka Onyejeocha, lasted nine hours but ended without resolution.
PENGASSAN accuses Dangote Refinery of dismissing and transferring hundreds of union members and replacing some Nigerians with expatriates. The company denies the allegations, insisting its restructuring follows global best practices.
In his opening remarks on Monday, Dingyadi stressed the urgency of ending the dispute.
“What’s happening today is very dear to our economy and to the security of the country. We have been informed that PENGASSAN is on strike,” the Minister said.
Strike Deepens Energy Crisis
The industrial action has already triggered a major energy shortfall. The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that gas shortages linked to the strike slashed national power generation by more than 1,100 megawatts.
Available supply on the National Grid dropped from over 4,300MW on September 28 to as low as 3,200MW, forcing emergency interventions to prevent a nationwide blackout.
To cushion the impact, NISO increased hydropower generation by more than 400MW, introduced real-time load balancing, and carried out selective load shedding. The agency said these measures helped sustain supply to critical areas despite the strain.
Outlook Hinges on Peace Talks
PENGASSAN insists its members will not return to work until Dangote reverses alleged anti-labour practices. The refinery maintains that its actions were lawful and necessary to protect efficiency.
Analysts warn that a prolonged standoff could destabilise petroleum product supply and undermine energy security, given the refinery’s central role in the domestic market and the strike’s impact on electricity generation.
Stakeholders now await the outcome of today’s negotiations, which many view as the last chance to avert a full-blown industrial crisis across Nigeria’s oil, gas, and power sectors.