Details are surfacing regarding the discussions and agreements reached between Dangote refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) following the upheaval caused by the dismissal of employees.
Insiders familiar with the discussion informed PREMIUM TIMES that Dangote refinery proposed to compensate the dismissed employees’ wages for five years without any work obligations due to worries about potential sabotage they might instigate.
The proposal, made during the discussions, “would have permitted the workers to remain at home or seek other opportunities while receiving their monthly compensation for five years,” the insiders stated.
These insiders conveyed to this publication that despite government officials voicing apprehension about the monetary strain of such a proposal, Dangote refinery affirmed that it represented a lesser burden than permitting potentially unreliable workers into the facility.
Nevertheless, the insiders claimed that PENGASSAN turned down this suggestion, choosing instead to have the workers reassigned to different segments of the Dangote Group’s operations.
“Dangote proposed to remunerate the dismissed workers for five years while they continue to stay at home, or engage in other pursuits, but they would not be allowed near the refinery, as there are concerns regarding possible sabotage. So, Dangote intended to compensate them without requiring work.”
Even though the government officials at the discussions indicated that this might impose a significant burden on Dangote, he maintained that it was a lesser burden for him than allowing unreliable individuals in his facility due to concerns about sabotage.
However, PENGASSAN turned it down,” one source articulated. When approached by PREMIUM on Thursday morning to clarify the reasoning behind rejecting the salary compensation proposal, PENGASSAN General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa stated they reached a resolution that prioritizes the workers’ welfare.
Mr. Okugbawa elaborated that negotiation is a process of give-and-take, where varied options are weighed and debated until a mutually agreeable resolution is established.
He underscored that the final agreement is what holds significance, not the separate proposals considered during the negotiations. “Thus, the suggestion to provide five years of salary without any work isn’t crucial at the final phase. What truly matters is what was agreed upon—those are the actions that will be undertaken, not the rejected alternatives,” he asserted.
Insiders indicated that the reassignment option might not be optimal for the workers, as they could be sent to distant locations, leading to some employees opting to resign rather than accept the reassignment.
However, Mr. Okugbawa stated that such concerns are conjectural, asserting that employees should report to their designated locations and continue their duties.He compared the union’s role to mediating a dispute between a husband and wife, where the objective is to foster a resolution and allow the parties to proceed harmoniously.
“Those are mere speculations; even if the union were absent and you were transferred, wouldn’t you go to your new assignment and continue your employment? I believe Nigerians should focus on the positive outcomes of the negotiations rather than the negative aspects.
“What the union does after mediating is return to their homes, and the workers and management will simply continue their cooperation. It resembles resolving a case between a husband and a wife; after brokering peace, you return home, and they coexist.
“Thus, there’s no need to foster animosity between them at all. We look forward to a productive relationship with Dangote refinery moving ahead. Our primary concern is the welfare of our workers. Dangote Refinery isn’t losing any money, and people should not misconstrue that we are invested in his business model. The most pressing issue is that these individuals regain their jobs,” he stated.