Nigerians are bracing for tougher days ahead as the lingering standoff between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) triggered yet another round of fuel price hikes on Monday.
A closed-door meeting convened by the Federal Government in Abuja to reconcile the parties ended in a stalemate, further deepening uncertainty in the oil and gas sector. PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, confirmed the outcome in the early hours of Tuesday, bluntly describing the negotiations as a “deadlock.”
Findings across the Federal Capital Territory showed filling stations swiftly adjusting pump prices. At outlets in Gwarimpa and along the Kubwa Expressway, petrol now sells between ₦910 and ₦920 per litre, up from last week’s ₦890. The upward adjustment, operators said, was driven by panic buying amid fears of worsening supply disruptions.
PENGASSAN, which accused Dangote Refinery of sacking workers for union activities, maintained that its nationwide strike would continue until the company reverses the dismissals. In a directive to members on Monday night, the union’s Secretary, Lumumba Ighotemu, insisted that only official communication from the association should be regarded as authentic.
The strike has already paralysed operations at key regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja.
While Dangote Refinery has yet to disclose the number of workers affected by the layoffs, the company has neither denied the claims nor yielded to the union’s demands. Last weekend, the refinery described PENGASSAN’s industrial action as “bully tactics,” but the union has remained defiant.
The Federal Government, represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, admitted that the dispute was hurting ordinary Nigerians. “This matter must be resolved for the good of citizens, the union and the employers,” he said during the parley.
However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) blamed the spike in pump prices on panic buying fuelled by the crisis. Its president, Abubakar Maigandi, called on the government to act swiftly, warning that prolonged uncertainty could plunge the nation into deeper hardship.
Meanwhile, despite securing an interim order from the National Industrial Court restraining the union from striking, Dangote Refinery has struggled to enforce the judgement. PENGASSAN insists it is unaware of the court ruling and has vowed to sustain its action until its demands are met.
