Dangote Refinery Strives Amidst Unionization Demand: PENGASSAN Aligns with NUPENG for Workers' Unification Efforts
In a bid to resolve a crisis that threatens to disrupt the nationwide distribution of petroleum products, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Muhammadu Dingyadi, has called an emergency meeting of stakeholders in Abuja.
The meeting, scheduled to take place in the capital, aims to address the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery over the rights of workers to unionise.
PENGASSAN has accused the Dangote Refinery's management of resisting efforts to unionise its workers since the refinery's inception, despite repeated diplomatic engagements. The union argues that total unionisation at the Dangote Refinery and its allied companies is consistent with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and Nigerian labour laws.
In a statement, PENGASSAN's General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, declared total solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). He expressed deep concern over the continued resistance to unionisation at the Dangote Refinery.
NUPENG earlier announced plans to halt the loading of petroleum products from Monday, alleging that the Dangote Refinery intended to bar newly recruited drivers of its 4,000 trucks from joining the union.
PENGASSAN has threatened to shut down refinery operations if the dispute over workers' rights to join unions is not resolved. They argue that the right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is a fundamental human right.
The union urges all stakeholders to engage in urgent dialogue to avert disruption of operations. In a show of support, PENGASSAN has expressed its backing for NUPENG in their push for unionisation of tanker drivers and other employees at the Dangote Refinery.
Failure to recognise and respect the rights of workers to unionise will have consequences that extend beyond the Dangote Refinery, according to PENGASSAN. Our website reports that the emergency meeting has been called to resolve the crisis surrounding the Dangote Refinery.
As the situation unfolds, it is hoped that the emergency meeting will lead to a resolution that respects the rights of workers and ensures the continued smooth distribution of petroleum products across Nigeria.
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