The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed an immediate suspension of crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery following the dismissal of some of its members.
In a circular issued on Friday, PENGASSAN accused the refinery’s management of sacking workers for exercising their right to unionise.
“The Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to the exercise of their constitutional right to being unionized,” the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, stated.
He alleged that the company opted for “misinformation and propaganda” instead of meaningful dialogue to resolve the matter.
As part of its directive, the union ordered branch chairmen to halt all supply operations to the refinery. “All crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut. The loading operation for vessels headed there should be halted immediately,” the statement read.
The letter, referenced PENG.47/IR-int.000316/025, also instructed the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) chairman to cut gas supply to the refinery with immediate effect.
PENGASSAN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), further directed branch leaders involved in the enforcement to provide updates without delay.
The directive concluded with the union’s rallying call: “Injury to one, injury to all.”
