PENGASSAN responds to VP Shettima, declaring Nigeria is bigger than Dangote and the Presidency amid refinery labour dispute.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a strong response to recent comments by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who criticized the union’s strike action over its ongoing dispute with the Dangote Refinery.
Speaking on Monday, PENGASSAN’s National President, Festus Osifo, asserted that Nigeria’s interests come before any individual or institution, including Dangote and the Presidency.
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Osifo emphasized that the association’s primary duty is to protect the rights and employment of its members, particularly those who were allegedly dismissed by the Dangote Refinery for joining the union. He vowed that PENGASSAN would continue to uphold this responsibility without compromise.
“Of course, the nation is bigger than PENGASSAN, the same way it’s bigger than Dangote and the Presidency,” Osifo said. “We have a clear mandate to protect the jobs of our members, and we will carry out that mandate whenever necessary. Should this same situation occur again tomorrow, our response will remain the same.”
PENGASSAN’s remarks come amid growing tensions between the association and the Dangote Refinery, following allegations of unfair labour practices and the termination of unionized workers. The union insists that it will not relent until workers’ rights are fully respected.
This latest exchange highlights the deepening friction between organized labour and key national stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, as the debate over workers’ welfare and corporate accountability continues to intensify.
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