Lawmakers Step In to Broker Peace Between Oil Union and Dangote Refinery

Members of the lower house of parliament have offered to act as go-betweens to smooth over a heated row between senior workers in the oil and gas trade and the operators of the Dangote Refinery, aiming to prevent further hitches in the nation’s fuel supplies.

The intervention comes after a short-lived halt in work by the union last month, which sparked fears of shortages at petrol pumps and dips in power output, though things steadied once talks kicked in. The refinery bosses called the action a wrongful bid to disrupt their smooth running, while the union fired back that it was standing up for its members after claims of unfair sackings.

The house committee on oil resources, trade, and business, in a fresh statement, welcomed the chance to help mend fences and get both sides chatting openly. They stressed that a lasting fix hinges on honest give-and-take, with no room for threats or heavy-handed moves that could rattle the wider economy.

The lawmakers called on everyone involved to shun public spats and backroom deals, urging a focus on fair play and real steps forward. They promised to step up their watch on the refinery’s work and the union’s worries, treating it as a top priority to keep fuel flowing steadily for all Nigerians.

The committee head, who leads the group looking after these matters, painted the offer as a clear sign of the house’s firm backing for a power sector that runs without hitches and puts everyday needs first. “We stand ready to guide talks and make sure both parties find common ground that serves the public good,” the statement read.

This push by the lawmakers fits into wider efforts to steady the energy trade after the union’s action caused jitters over petrol lines and blackouts. Officials stepped in at the time, and the group held off once the refinery pledged to shift the dismissed staff to other roles within the plant.

Yet the underlying beef lingers, with the union eyeing fresh actions if the same issues crop up again. The refinery, meanwhile, keeps churning out fuel and diesel at cut rates, which many see as a win for local making over imports.

The house’s move aims to lock in that progress by nipping any fresh rows in the bud, drawing on lessons from past bust-ups in the sector that left folks waiting hours for basics. By playing fair referee, the lawmakers hope to build trust and clear paths for more home-led growth in fuels and beyond.