The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says it will shutdown refinery operations as a last resort if the row between Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote refinery is not resolved.
On September 5, NUPENG said workers will down their tools and start sourcing for alternative employment from Monday.
In a statement on Monday, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN’s general secretary, said the action will be a last resort to protect its members’ rights and interests.
“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 statement reads.
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“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.”
Furthermore, PENGASSAN expressed solidarity with NUPENG in their ongoing efforts “to secure the rights of tanker drivers who are currently being hired at the Dangote refinery”.
“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,” the association said.
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“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.”
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) had announced plans to suspend the lifting and dispensing of petroleum products for three days, from September 9, in support of NUPENG.
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