Government Urges Restraint in Dangote Refinery-PENGASSAN Labour Dispute
Nigeria’s leadership has called for moderation in the ongoing industrial dispute between Dangote Refinery and oil workers’ union PENGASSAN, emphasizing that national interests must take precedence over sectoral conflicts.
Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday, Vice President Kashim Shettima stressed that Nigeria’s collective interests outweigh those of individual organizations. “Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,” he declared.
The dispute originated when the Lagos-based Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train facility, terminated approximately 800 Nigerian employees last month over alleged sabotage activities that reportedly compromised operational safety. The resulting industrial action, which concluded last Wednesday, significantly impacted the nation’s oil sector, with NNPC Limited reporting losses of 200,000 barrels daily and billions of naira in revenue.
Addressing the financial implications, Shettima highlighted the refinery’s complex funding structure, noting its reliance on various financing sources. “This is a refinery financed through a combination of equity investment, debt finance, and loans from both local and foreign banks. The refinery has to function to salvage the debt,” he explained.
The Vice President particularly praised Aliko Dangote, describing Africa’s wealthiest individual as “an institution” and “a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament.” Shettima pointed out that Dangote chose to invest in Nigeria despite potentially more profitable opportunities elsewhere, suggesting that a similar investment in tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, or Google could have yielded $70-80 billion.
Looking forward, the government has pledged to maintain industrial harmony while protecting the oil and gas sector’s interests. Shettima emphasized the importance of protecting domestic investments, stating, “We owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria.”
The administration maintains that such disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than actions that could impact national economic stability.
