The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN, has ordered an immediate halt to gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote Refinery. It is threatening further action, including a shutdown of operations, due to the refinery’s dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers hours after they joined the union.
PENGAASSAN accused Dangote management of anti-labour practices adding that the sack is a a violation of workers’ constitutional rights to unionize. The refinery, however, confirmed that a small number of staff were affected, citing “repeated acts of sabotage” as the reason for the dismissals.
. The refinery claimed that over 3000 Nigerians are still working in the company.
” The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with due consequences on human life and related safety concerns
” We remain vigilant to our internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long – term stability of the strategic national asset. It is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, our partners across Africa, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.”A statement from the Dangote ‘s group partly read.
Meanwhile, petroleum marketers have made adjustments in the price as the union braces for a showdown with the Dangote refinery.
