The Federal Government through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has waded into the ongoing standoff between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), urging both parties to embrace dialogue to prevent disruptions to the nation’s energy supply, JomogNews reports.
In a statement on Sunday, NUPRC Chief Executive Officer, Gbenga Komolafe, stressed the need for compromise in resolving the crisis.
“Regardless of the fact that the issues involved are purely mid- and downstream affairs, our position is that parties should refrain from any action capable of disrupting energy supply in the country. These are matters that can be discussed and amicably resolved in the national interest,” Komolafe said.
The intervention comes after PENGASSAN declared a nationwide strike on Sunday, demanding the reversal of the sack of more than 800 workers at Dangote Refinery. The union also directed members to halt crude oil and gas supply to the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery.
Dangote Refinery, however, described the strike as an act of economic sabotage and urged the Federal Government to rein in the union.
