.Summons both parties to an emergency meeting

The Federal Government has called on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to reconsider its proposed strike starting tomorrow, Monday, over its ongoing dispute with Dangote Refinery.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, who made the plea on Sunday, said his Ministry has taken steps to bring both parties to a roundtable to stop their dispute from escalating further.

Dingyadi said that invitations have been extended to both the leadership of PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency meeting in his office on Monday for the conciliation of their dispute.

The Minister called on the leadership of PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration to allow his Ministry to mediate in the dispute in a peaceful atmosphere.

He said: “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.

“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of her economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses by the country but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians. Consequentially, it will have adverse impacts, both on economic stability and national security.”

He urged the feuding parties to give peace a chance, assuring them that the Federal Government would resolve the dispute amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved and in the national interest according to a statement signed by Patience Onuobia, Head, Information and Public Relations of the Ministry.