Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed support for Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over its industrial dispute with Dangote Refinery.
Gatekeepers News reports that PENGASSAN warned that it may halt refinery operations if workers’ rights continue to be ignored.
In a statement issued on Monday, Lumumba Okugbawa, the association’s general secretary, said the move would only come as a last option to defend its members.
The statement reads, “Should the ongoing situation persist without a resolution, PENGASSAN will be left with no option but to join in shutting down the refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests.”
“We therefore urge all stakeholders to engage in immediate and constructive dialogue to address these pressing issues. Failure to recognise and respect the rights of workers to unionise will have consequences that extend beyond Dangote’s refinery workplace, thereby impacting all facets of our industry.”
The association also reaffirmed its support for NUPENG’s campaign to safeguard the rights of tanker drivers engaged at the refinery.
It said, “We wish to put on record that Dangote refinery management has been resisting potential members of both PENGASSAN and NUPENG from joining the Association since its inception.”
“All diplomatic efforts to persuade the company’s management have so far not yielded the desired result. It is with deep concern that PENGASSAN observe the increasing resistance to unionisation at the Dangote Refinery, as the continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated going forward.”
“We stand firmly in support of NUPENG’s call for the full unionisation of not just Petroleum Tankers Drivers but all employees of the refinery and its allied companies. This is in accordance with the principles set forth by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and in line with Nigerian labour laws.”
