The Federal Government has appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve its planned nationwide strike over disputes with the Dangote Refinery, warning that such action could cripple the economy and worsen hardship for citizens.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, in a statement on Sunday, urged the union to give room for dialogue, assuring that government has already initiated moves to resolve the standoff. He disclosed that a conciliation meeting between PENGASSAN leaders and the Dangote Refinery management has been scheduled for Monday in Abuja.
“A nationwide strike in the petroleum sector will inflict huge economic losses and create unbearable hardship for Nigerians. Its impact on stability and national security cannot be ignored,” Dingyadi said, calling on the union to withdraw its strike notice.
PENGASSAN had directed its members to down tools from midnight of September 28, accusing the refinery’s management of unfair labour practices, including the dismissal of workers and alleged discriminatory treatment of Nigerian staff.
In solidarity, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers, insisting they were victimized for joining the union. TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, described the dismissals as unconstitutional and in violation of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
“The sacking of workers for exercising their right to unionise is unacceptable. Dangote Refinery must reinstate them immediately, issue a public apology, and guarantee that no employee will face victimisation,” Toro stated. He warned that failure to act could force the TUC to mobilize its affiliates for a nationwide strike.
The TUC also called for an independent probe involving the Ministry of Labour, ILO, and other relevant bodies to address the allegations against the refinery.
As tension mounts, Nigerians await Monday’s meeting to see whether government’s intervention will ease the standoff and avert a crippling shutdown of the petroleum sector.
