Former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president and Senator Adams Oshiomhole has sharply criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for escalating its conflict with Dangote Refinery into a broader shutdown of oil sector operations nationwide.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Oshiomhole acknowledged that unions are entitled to defend workers’ rights. However, he cautioned that the means used must not inflict collateral damage on others.
“In seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the jobs of several other workers. … The tools you deploy must be such that they do not undermine other people’s jobs,” he said.
He criticised PENGASSAN’s decision to order shutdowns not only at Dangote Refinery but across facilities belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) and other firms. He described the sweeping action as ill-considered.
“I suddenly witnessed long queues at filling stations … all because PENGASSAN had decided that NNPC be shut down, several other companies shut down, all because of a problem in one refinery,” Oshiomhole recounted.
Drawing on his past experience leading the NLC, Oshiomhole said labour disputes should target specific employers rather than dragging unrelated entities into the fray.
“We had a big battle with Union Bank … But even when we had the capacity to shut down all the banks, we didn’t.”
He warned unions against initiating industrial action without thoroughly considering its ripple effects, citing examples like small business owners being unable to transport produce due to fuel scarcity.
At the same time, Oshiomhole reaffirmed the importance of labour rights, stressing that freedom of association brings responsibilities for both employers and employees.
He urged unions to allow newly established private enterprises like Dangote Refinery time to stabilize before launching disruptive actions.
“If you cripple a business before it even finds its feet, you are also destroying the jobs you claim to protect,” he warned.
The Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023 and boasting a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is Africa’s largest single-train refinery. In the prior month, PENGASSAN directed its members to shut down operations in protest of what it alleged were anti-labour practices.
The action triggered fuel queues and drew criticism from government and industry observers who warned of further strain on Nigeria’s energy supply.
See also:
Tinubu’s Daughter’s Iyaloja Installation Sparks Controversy In Benin
Inflation May Fall To 14% By 2026 If Reforms Persist — Afreximbank
Drone Strike Devastates Ukrainian Farm, Kills 13,000 Pigs
Church Of England Names First Female Archbishop Of Canterbury
Emergency Rule: Fubara Cracks Down On Irregular Practices By Officials
