The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its three-day-old industrial action. This was sequel to an agreement brokered by the Federal Government between the union and Dangote Refinery.
After hours of intense discussion, the two parties appended their signatures to the agreement, Tuesday night with Dangote Refinery accepting to reabsorb the over 800 staff earlier sacked for allegedly  joining PENGASSAN.
During a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN’s President, disclosed that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union had met and resolved to suspend the strike as a mark of respect for the sacrifices made by Federal Government and other stakeholders to broker peace.
But Osifo maintained that the agreement did not fully address the demands of PENGASSAN as it failed to give specific guarantees that the sacked workers will be returned to their jobs at the refinery.
However, he said that the union has accepted the deal even with the grey areas.
The PENGASSAN president also responded to what he described as wrong assertions and misconceptions ascribed to the union as a result of the dispute with Dangote Refinery.
Osifo dismissed the widespread allegation of deliberately sabotaging the oil giant, saying that PENGASSAN has members in big multinational oil companies operating in the country and has contributed to their progress and growth.
He also dismissed the notion that the association was after the check- off dues that it will get from Dangote Refinery, maintaining that PENGASSAN was only interested in giving the workers a platform to safeguard their welfare.
