Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy employees dismissed by its subsidiary, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, following reconciliation meetings brokered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The resolution, announced Wednesday, comes after talks held Monday and Tuesday between Dangote Group founder Aliko Dangote, representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and government officials, including Finance Minister Wale Edun and Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi.

The ministry said the parties also agreed that the affected workers would be absorbed into other Dangote Group subsidiaries without any loss of pay.

“The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.

“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.

“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike.

“Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith,” the ministry said.

On Sunday, PENGASSAN directed a nationwide strike in protest against the dismissal of several Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the union’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, said the decision followed an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council.

Okugbawa described the refinery’s action as a violation of Nigerian labour laws, the Constitution, and international conventions.