Share!
The Dangote Group has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift and decisive intervention in resolving the industrial dispute that threatened to disrupt operations at the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the company said the President’s timely action forestalled what it described as a “major sabotage attempt” that could have undermined national energy stability and investor confidence.
According to the refinery’s management, the crisis began after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) directed its members to suspend crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery in protest over the disengagement of some contract staff.
Dangote maintained that the affected workers were dismissed for acts of sabotage and breaches of internal safety protocols, which the company viewed as serious misconduct. It noted that the union’s directive, if not checked, could have crippled operations and jeopardised Nigeria’s energy security.
“The prompt intervention of President Bola Tinubu, working through the relevant government agencies, saved the situation from escalating into a full-blown disruption of critical national infrastructure,” the company said.
The presidential mediation came after days of heightened tension between PENGASSAN and the refinery, as the union accused management of unfair termination of more than 800 employees. Earlier, the National Industrial Court had issued an interim order restraining the union from interfering with refinery operations pending the resolution of the dispute.
Following high-level negotiations facilitated by the Federal Government, both parties reached an understanding that the affected employees would be redeployed to other subsidiaries within the Dangote Group without loss of pay. Consequently, PENGASSAN suspended its planned nationwide strike and restored full services.
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) lauded President Tinubu’s leadership in resolving the crisis, describing the Dangote Refinery as a strategic national asset crucial to Nigeria’s industrial growth and energy independence. The forum also cautioned against any acts capable of undermining the refinery’s stability or discouraging future investments.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is expected to anchor Nigeria’s drive toward ending fuel importation and ensuring a stable domestic supply of refined products.
Industry experts have, however, called on both labour and management to sustain dialogue and transparency to prevent future disruptions that could threaten the refinery’s output and the country’s broader energy objectives.
No related posts.
