Dangote Petroleum Refinery has launched a blistering attack on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), accusing the unions of pursuing check-off dues and self-interest rather than the welfare of workers.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, the refinery dismissed fresh threats of industrial action by the unions, alleging that their true agenda was financial.
“The monthly check-off dues and other subscriptions and scams that feed their lifestyles are the primary concern and interests of these oligarchs,” the refinery said, referencing PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo’s recent admission on Channels Television that the union demanded dues the day after workers allegedly unionised.
The refinery accused the TUC of acting “zombie-like” by declaring full solidarity with PENGASSAN without seeking clarification from management. “He who hears only from one side and passes judgment without hearing the other side is a fool. Unfortunately, the Trade Union Congress has placed itself in that position,” it stated.
Dangote Refinery further alleged that neither PENGASSAN, TUC, nor allied unions such as NUPENG have provided transparent accounts of funds collected from workers, instead pointing to what it described as the unions’ “lavish and opulent lifestyles.”
The company warned that the unions’ actions could plunge Nigeria into “utter darkness and anarchy” by sabotaging the country’s energy security, and urged the Federal Government to resist what it called attempts to drag the nation back to “the dark ages” through strikes and disruptions.
“Dangote Refinery is a national asset that requires our collective protection and prayers,” the statement read. “To paraphrase the TUC press release, TUC and its cohorts, regardless of size or wealth, must not be allowed to trample on the dignity and rights of 230 million Nigerians.”
The refinery also challenged the unions to publish their audited financial accounts for the past decade, insisting that workers deserve to know how their contributions are being spent.
