The Federal Government has urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENSASSAN) to reconsider its set strike over dispute with Dangote Refinery.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, made this plea on Sunday, in a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour, Patience Onuobia,
He said his Ministry had taken steps to bring both parties to a roundtable to prevent their dispute from escalating further.
Dingyadi revealed that invitations had been extended to both the leadership of PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency meeting in his office on Monday
The Minister called on the leadership of PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration to allow his Ministry conciliate the dispute in a peaceful atmosphere.
In a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, PENGASSAN directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services following the alleged mass dismissal of some workers by Dangote Refinery.
It alleged the refinery had replaced the dismissed staff with over 2,000 Indians, calling the action an affront to all workers in the country.
News Edited by Favour Owonibi