The Federal Government has stepped into the escalating dispute between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and organised labour, following the alleged dismissal of workers for joining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had on Sunday demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the affected workers, insisting that the refinery’s action was unconstitutional and a blatant violation of workers’ rights.

TUC Secretary-General, Mr. Nuhu Toro, in a statement issued in Abuja, described the sack as “anti-worker” and a gross infringement of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association. He added that the move contravened Nigeria’s obligations under International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

“The dismissal of workers simply for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association is a gross violation. No corporation, regardless of its size or wealth, will be allowed to trample on the dignity and rights of Nigerian workers,” Toro declared.

He further demanded a public apology from the refinery’s management, along with assurances against future victimisation. The TUC also called for an independent investigation into the company’s labour practices, involving the Ministry of Labour, the ILO and other stakeholders.

In solidarity, PENGASSAN directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services from midnight on Sunday to protest what it described as “anti-labour practices and discrimination against Nigerian employees” at the facility.

The threat of industrial action, which could cripple activities in the nation’s critical petroleum sector, prompted the Federal Government’s intervention. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Muhammad Dingyadi, in a separate statement, appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend the strike and give room for dialogue.

Dingyadi revealed that the ministry had already initiated reconciliation efforts to prevent the crisis from spiralling further.

“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,” he announced.

The minister stressed the central role of the petroleum sector in Nigeria’s economy and warned of the consequences of a shutdown.

“A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause hardship for Nigerians. Its impact on economic stability and national security cannot be underestimated,” he said.

Dingyadi therefore urged PENGASSAN to withdraw its strike notice and allow the government to mediate in a peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Toro warned that the TUC had placed all its affiliates on red alert and would not hesitate to mobilise for a nationwide industrial action should the refinery and the government fail to address its demands.

The unfolding dispute has placed the spotlight on labour rights in Nigeria’s private sector and heightened concerns about the impact of a potential shutdown of the country’s largest refinery on the economy and citizens.