Dangote Refinery made an offer to pay the salaries of the staff it laid off for a period of five years without any work, to avoid potential sabotage from them, but the PENGASSAN union refused to accept this.
Sources informed Premium Times that despite the government's concern about the financial cost, Dangote insisted that this was easier for him than having disgruntled staff he was not in agreement with remain within the industry.
However, PENGASSAN chose the reinstatement of staff from some sections of Dangote's companies with full pay, which was agreed upon after a settlement was reached with the intervention of the federal government.
Dangote Refinery had laid off the staff based on allegations of committing sabotage and posing a threat to the security and operations of the industry.
This was an action that sparked controversy, leading PENGASSAN to instruct its members to withdraw their services, before a settlement was reached later.
The President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, warned that they would return to a strike if Dangote reneges on the agreement.