The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has stated that it was not a signatory to the communiqué that concluded its recent strike at Dangote Refinery.

The union halted its nationwide strike on Wednesday following government intervention but maintained that its demands remain unresolved.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, clarified that the document shared during the meeting did not constitute an agreement.

“If you see that communiqué, we did not sign it. Normally, it is supposed to be signed by three parties. We did not sign because we felt that some things in it were not okay with us,” he said.

Osifo emphasized that the statement was merely a communication from the Minister of Labour and Employment, who was serving as the chief conciliator.

“When we subjected it to our NEC, we had to decide on priorities. Some media houses claimed we were only interested in check-up dues,” he stated.

“That is false. What we prioritised was how our members would return to work and provide for their families.”

The union president stated PENGASSAN’s position was clear: “Take the people back to the refinery.”

He added that Dangote initially resisted reinstating the disengaged workers, only agreeing after government intervention prompted a compromise.

Osifo dismissed Dangote’s accusations that the dismissed employees engaged in sabotage.

He emphasized that the union’s battle is not for itself, but for Nigerian workers whose employment was abruptly terminated for exercising their right to association.

“The release that Dangote made on workers sabotaging the economy was totally incorrect. If we had allowed that sabotage tag to stand, those 800 people would not be able to secure jobs in the future.

“That stigma would remain forever,” he lamented.

He stressed “Clearing that was a very big win. We are not perturbed in any way.

“If Dangote does not do the needful, our tools are always available. We will never get tired of struggling for what is right. We have been around for 50 years before the Dangote Refinery came on stream.”

On Wednesday, the PENGASSAN president announced the suspension of the strike.

He said the decision came after meetings with the National Security Adviser and Dangote management.

Osifo acknowledged that “grey areas” remained in the communiqué but emphasized that the union had suspended the strike in good faith.

He warned that the action would resume without notice if the refinery failed to implement the agreed resolutions.