The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has thrown its weight behind the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in their dispute with Dangote Refinery, threatening to shut down the refinery if the issue isn’t resolved.
The conflict centers around Dangote Refinery’s decision to import thousands of compressed natural gas-powered trucks for fuel distribution, with a condition that drivers must not join trade unions, which NUPENG argues violates workers’ constitutional rights.
PENGASSAN has expressed “unwavering solidarity” with NUPENG, describing the denial of workers’ right to unionize as “unacceptable” and a direct violation of Nigerian labor laws and international conventions.
PENGASSAN warned that if the situation persists without a resolution, it will join NUPENG in shutting down the refinery operations to protect its members’ rights and interests.
“On behalf of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, we are writing to express our unwavering solidarity with our ally and sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers who are currently being hired at the Dangote Refinery.
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,” the PENGASSAN threatened.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has also backed NUPENG’s call for full unionization of petroleum tanker drivers and all employees of the refinery and its allied companies.
The Federal Government has summoned an emergency meeting with Dangote Refinery management and NUPENG leadership to resolve the crisis.
