Following the brewing labour crisis at the Dangote Refinery, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) declared solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the push for the unionisation of tanker drivers and all employees of the multi-billion-dollar facility and its affiliates.
Recall that NUPENG had threatened to halt fuel loading operations today, alleging that the refinery was attempting to bar over 4,000 tanker drivers recruited for its fleet from joining the union.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN said the refinery’s continuous resistance to unionisation is unacceptable.
“On behalf of PENGASSAN, we express our unwavering solidarity with our ally and sister union, NUPENG, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers currently being hired at the Dangote Refinery,” the statement read.
The senior staff union accused Dangote Refinery of blocking union membership since inception, despite several rounds of diplomatic engagement.
“All diplomatic efforts to persuade the company’s management have not yielded the desired result. The continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated going forward,” PENGASSAN warned.
The association further threatened that if the stalemate persists, it could be forced to shut down operations at the refinery as a last resort.
Call for Dialogue
While backing NUPENG’s demand for full unionisation across the refinery and its allied companies, PENGASSAN stressed that the right of workers to organise and bargain collectively is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Nigerian labour laws.
The union, however, urged urgent dialogue to avert industrial disruption.
“Failure to respect workers’ rights to unionise will have consequences that extend beyond Dangote’s refinery workplace, thereby impacting all facets of our industry,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has summoned an emergency meeting of all stakeholders in Abuja to resolve the impasse
Comments 1