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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has summoned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Refinery to an emergency conciliation meeting scheduled for Monday in Abuja, following the union’s threat to embark on strike.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, who disclosed this in a statement over the weekend, said the meeting would be held in his office as part of efforts to douse tensions arising from the ongoing face-off between the two parties.
Dingyadi urged the leadership of PENGASSAN to suspend its planned strike, which is expected to commence on Monday, to allow for dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere.
“The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday,” he said.
The minister warned that industrial action in the petroleum sector would not only lead to heavy revenue losses for the country but also compound economic hardship for citizens and threaten national security.
He assured both sides that the Federal Government was committed to resolving the dispute amicably and in the best interest of the nation.
Earlier, PENGASSAN had directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29.
In a communique issued after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) over the weekend, and which was signed by its general secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of violating labour laws and international conventions by terminating over 800 workers’ employment for joining PENGASSAN.
The Union alleged that the company had replaced the affected Nigerian staff with more than 2,000 foreign workers, describing the action as a show of disloyalty to a country that has given him the most incentives any company has ever enjoyed at taxpayers’ expense.
It further condemned what it called enslavement of Nigerian workers at the refinery, stressing that no individual or company is above the law.
As part of its resolutions, PENGASSAN directed all members in field locations to down tools from 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, while those in offices, institutions, companies, and agencies were asked to commence a full withdrawal of services from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29. The union also instructed that gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery be halted, and ordered International Oil Companies (IOCs) to ramp down production linked to the facility.
“No intervention whatsoever will be entertained across field locations except where the safety of personnel and assets is at risk; such clearance must be obtained from the National Secretariat.
“The prayer point should include a call to God Almighty to give courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travelers on the need to obey the laws of our country.
“No man is bigger than our country!! An injury to one is an injury to all,” the Union stated.
In an earlier response, however, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals dismissed the union’s claims, describing them as unfounded and misleading.
The company explained that the development was not a mass sack but part of a re-organisation exercise aimed at strengthening operations and addressing what it called repeated acts of sabotage within the facility.
It disclosed that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain in active employment at the refinery despite the shake-up, stressing that only a minimal number of staff were affected.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our petroleum refinery at present. Only a minimal number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process,” the management said.
Dangote Refinery noted that the reorganisation was necessary to forestall safety risks and operational disruptions, insisting that the move was in the best interest of the refinery and the country.
The statement added that the company remains committed to internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of workers to decide on union membership without interference.
