Former Senator Shehu Sani has called on Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to settle their dispute through dialogue and avoid a strike.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, he warned that a nationwide shutdown would affect every Nigerian.
“I believe Dangote can reach an agreement with the union and this issue can be solved,” Sani said.
The senator praised Aliko Dangote as “one son Nigeria is proud of” for building Africa’s largest refinery. But he stressed that workers have a constitutional right to belong to unions.
“Only when workers disrupt operations should measures be taken. To sack them for joining unions is wrong,” he said.
Sani also cautioned that the global reputation of the refinery should not be damaged by labour disputes.
He described the crisis as a clash between Dangote’s need for uninterrupted production and the unions’ duty to protect workers.
“The world sees Nigeria as a petroleum power courtesy of Dangote refinery,” he added.
Sani warned that without unions, workers would be exploited and their rights abused. While he acknowledged Dangote’s fear of strikes, he insisted that dialogue was the only way forward.
He welcomed government efforts to mediate, noting that the Ministry of Labour’s invitation to both sides showed seriousness in resolving the crisis.
PENGASSAN Orders Shutdown
PENGASSAN accused Dangote Refinery of sacking 800 Nigerian workers and replacing them with more than 2,000 Indians.
The union ordered a shutdown, saying operations would not resume until the sacked workers were reinstated.
It directed members to cut off gas and crude supplies to the refinery immediately.
“All control room and field operations must stop without delay,” its circular stated.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the union added.
TUC Threatens Strike
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) also condemned Dangote Refinery for allegedly sacking workers who joined PENGASSAN.
TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, said the move violated Nigeria’s Constitution and International Labour Organization conventions.
“We stand in full solidarity with the affected workers,” he said.
Toro demanded that the sacked staff be reinstated and that the refinery issue a public apology. He warned that TUC affiliates were on standby for a possible nationwide strike.
“No corporation will be allowed to trample on workers’ rights,” he declared.
Dangote’s Response
Dangote Refinery denied the allegations, saying the restructuring was necessary to “prevent sabotage and ensure safety.”
The company said only a small number of workers were affected, insisting that over 3,000 Nigerians were still employed.
It accused PENGASSAN of “criminal conduct” and “economic sabotage.”
“No law gives PENGASSAN the right to cut off supplies,” the refinery stated.
Dangote warned that the shutdown could disrupt fuel supplies and government revenues. It urged the Federal Government to intervene and stop what it called “reckless conduct.”
FG Steps In
The Federal Government appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend its planned strike.
Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi made the appeal on Sunday, saying the Ministry had started talks to prevent the crisis from escalating.
In a statement signed by Patience Onuobia, Head of Information and Public Relations, the Ministry confirmed that both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management had been invited to an emergency meeting in Abuja on Monday.
Dingyadi asked the union to withdraw its strike threat to allow discussions in a “peaceful atmosphere.”
