By Victor Ahiuma-Young
The storm brewing at the $20 billion Dangote Refinery has intensified as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has thrown its full weight behind the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), threatening a crippling strike if management continues to resist workers’ right to unionise.
In a fiery statement issued by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN declared “unwavering solidarity” with NUPENG, describing the refinery’s stiff opposition to unionisation as an affront to Nigerian labour laws and international conventions on workers’ rights.
> “All diplomatic efforts to persuade Dangote Refinery management have failed. The denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated. If the company refuses to change its stance, we will join NUPENG in shutting down operations,” the statement warned.
The union accused the refinery of deliberately blocking workers from joining PENGASSAN and NUPENG since inception, noting that this resistance undermines not only the principles of fair labour practice but also the safety and dignity of the workforce.
PENGASSAN stressed that unless urgent intervention comes from stakeholders, including the Federal Government, the country risks a major industrial crisis that could paralyse operations at Africa’s largest refinery.
> “We stand firmly in support of NUPENG’s call for full unionisation of all employees of the refinery and its allied companies. The right of workers to organise and bargain collectively is not just a legal right, it is a fundamental human right,” the union asserted.
The senior oil workers’ body further cautioned that the consequences of continued denial of workers’ rights at Dangote Refinery will ripple beyond the company, with potential disruptions across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
As tensions escalate, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to step in and avert what could become one of the most significant labour showdowns in recent history. PENGASSAN urged authorities to facilitate “immediate and constructive dialogue” before the dispute spirals into a full-blown shutdown of refinery operations.
The refinery, a flagship project of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is central to Nigeria’s energy ambitions. But with PENGASSAN and NUPENG now standing shoulder to shoulder, the refinery could be brought to its knees unless management backs down and respects workers’ rights.
> “In unity, we advocate for the rights of all workers. Together, we will ensure justice and fairness for every employee at Dangote Refinery,” PENGASSAN vowed.
With both unions bracing for a showdown, the fate of the nation’s most celebrated refinery now hangs in the balance.
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