LAGOS: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has thrown its weight behind the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the ongoing dispute over the unionisation of tanker drivers and employees of the Dangote Refinery and its allied companies.
NUPENG had earlier announced plans to halt fuel loading today, alleging that management of the refinery intended to prevent its 4,000 truck drivers from joining the union.
In a statement on Monday, PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, declared the association’s unwavering solidarity” with NUPENG, stressing that workers’ rights must be respected.
“Should this situation persist unresolved, PENGASSAN will have no option but to join in shutting down refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests,” the statement read.
The association accused the refinery of consistently resisting unionisation since inception, despite several diplomatic engagements. The continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated going forward, it warned.
PENGASSAN fully backed NUPENG’s call for total unionisation across the refinery and its affiliates, citing International Labour Organisation principles and Nigerian labour laws.
The right of workers to organise and bargain collectively is a fundamental human right, the union stated, urging all stakeholders to embrace dialogue to avert disruptions.
Meanwhile, Labour Minister Muhammadu Dingyadi has summoned an emergency meeting of stakeholders in Abuja to address the crisis.
