The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery following the intervention of the Federal Government, but warned that the truce remains temporary.

The strike, which began on Sunday over alleged anti-union practices at the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, disrupted parts of Nigeria’s oil and gas operations before an agreement was reached in the early hours of Wednesday.

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, announced the suspension after marathon negotiations in Abuja with government officials and representatives of the Dangote Group, noting that the union bowed to government persuasion out of respect for national institutions.

“We are only suspending, not calling off this strike,” Osifo declared. “If any part of this agreement is broken, we will not give any warning. We will immediately resume our suspended industrial action.”

He emphasized that the dispute was centered on workers’ fundamental rights to freedom of association and fair pay, stressing that PENGASSAN members joined the union to secure better welfare and conditions of service.

Osifo, however, expressed doubts about Dangote’s sincerity, warning that the union’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness. “We truly don’t believe that he will keep to his own side of the bargain. But because we have respect for government, its institutions, and the officials who worked till almost 4 a.m. to resolve this matter, we decided to take the moral high ground and suspend the strike,” he said.

The communique that ended the strike was signed under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour, but PENGASSAN noted it was not fully satisfied with the provisions. “As an institution, are we completely happy with what was provided? The answer for us is no,” Osifo added.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, commissioned in 2023 as Africa’s largest with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has been dogged by recurring disputes with oil sector unions. The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had earlier accused the conglomerate of similar anti-union practices.

PENGASSAN’s suspension of its action provides temporary relief for the oil and gas industry, but the union warned it would closely monitor compliance with the agreement and act immediately if violations occur.