By Abiola Olawale
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, owned by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his role in quelling a brewing industrial crisis with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The refinery also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the ministers of labour and employment, and other top government officials for averting potential disruptions to the nation’s fuel supply chain.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the refinery.
The statement reads in part” “Dangote Refinery is grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for his intervention, through his ministers and senior officials, which resulted in the abatement of the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN against the Refinery.
“We remain very grateful to these officials for their patriotism and national service.
“You gave us hope and reinforced our belief in the Nigerian nation and people as the backbone of our enterprise.
“Be assured that we would continue to work for and in your interest and persist in always protecting that interest against rent seekers, economic saboteurs, and economic squatters.
“To our loyal workers, who ensured that our operations were not disrupted even for a second, we thank and appreciate you,” the company stated.
It also assured Nigerians that it would not relent in serving the nation faithfully and diligently through the uninterrupted production of petroleum products.
“Our commitment to the Nigerian nation and our pact with its people remain undiluted, undiminished, and unalterable notwithstanding the distractions from our detractors and the saboteurs in our midst,” the statement added.
The New Diplomat reports that the dispute erupted after PENGASSAN accused Dangote refinery of alleged mass dismissals of over 800 Nigerian workers and replacing them with expatriates, labeling it as anti-labor practices.
In response, the union issued a nationwide strike notice, threatening to halt gas and crude oil supplies to the 650,000-barrels-per-day facility in Lagos’ Lekki Free Zone.
Following the escalation of the rift, a reconciliation meeting was led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi.
Also present at the conciliation meeting held at the office of the National Security Adviser were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
Others were the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Following the meeting, PENGASSAN announced the suspension of its industrial action.
