Dangote Refinery Crisis Deepens as PENGASSAN Joins NUPENG, Threatens Shutdown Over Union Rights
The standoff between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote Refinery has escalated, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) declaring solidarity and threatening a joint strike that could cripple operations at the multibillion-dollar facility.
In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN condemned the refinery’s alleged resistance to unionisation, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of Nigerian labour laws and international labour conventions.
“Dangote Refinery management has consistently resisted efforts by potential members of both PENGASSAN and NUPENG to join their unions since inception. All diplomatic engagements have failed, and this continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated,” the union warned.
PENGASSAN stressed that it fully supports NUPENG’s demand for the unionisation of petroleum tanker drivers and other employees at the refinery, insisting that the right to organise and bargain collectively is a fundamental human right.
“If management fails to reverse its stance, we will have no option but to join NUPENG in shutting down refinery operations as a last resort to protect workers’ rights and dignity,” the statement added.
The union urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to intervene swiftly to prevent a crisis that could disrupt the downstream petroleum sector and worsen the nation’s economic challenges.
“This dispute goes beyond Dangote Refinery. Failure to respect workers’ rights will have far-reaching consequences across the oil and gas industry. We therefore call for immediate and constructive dialogue to avert industrial unrest,” PENGASSAN stated.
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