PENGASSAN’s Strike Over Dangote Refinery Unnecessary — MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to leave Dangote Refinery alone, describing the strike action by oil workers as absolutely unnecessary.

MURIC’s Founder/Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola said on Monday, where he suspected hidden motives behind the planned strike.

“Going by what Nigeria went through in terms of decades of fuel shortages, long queues at petrol stations, high price of fuel which often ignited sudden rise in the prices of goods and services, etc, PENGASSAN should have considered the impact on Nigerians before deciding to go on strike”, it added.

PENGASSAN had decided to go on strike from Monday as a result of trade dispute with the Dangote Refinery over allegation of mass dismissal of about 800 workers.

The group accused the leadership of PENGASSAN of putting the welfare of more than 250 million Nigerians in jeopardy because of “an infinitesimal minority.”

It, therefore called on the federal government to protect Dangote Refinery from what it called overbearing influence of the oil workers union.

“In our candid opinion, this strike is absolutely unnecessary. It appears there are other hidden motives. Going by what Nigeria went through in terms of decades of fuel shortages, long queues at petrol stations, high price of fuel which often ignited sudden rise in the prices of goods and services, etc, PENGASSAN should have considered the impact on Nigerians before deciding to go on strike.

“It is a narrow-minded, parochial and unpatriotic decision. It is equally a most unpopular step and Nigerians from different walks of life have expressed their disapproval of the strike,” Akintola said.

MURIC cited the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) as an example of labour unions which allowed private universities to function without interference.

It further referenced the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) which does not meddle in the running of privately-owned transport companies with their drivers not joining the national body of drivers’ union.

“We, therefore call on the Federal Government to protect Dangote Refinery from the excesses of PENGASSAN and any other external workers union. Our call is hinged on the interest and general welfare of Nigerian citizens as well as that of the Nigerian economy,” he said.

Akintola stressed that, “It also behoves FG to treat Dangote Refinery as a priority project of the Nigerian oil sector which has started stabilising the dollar, feeding local oil needs and providing jobs.

“The impact of Dangote Refinery is already being felt throughout the world thereby earning tons of respect for Nigeria in the comity of nations. Already, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has confirmed that Dangote Refinery is pushing its European counterparts which hitherto serviced the Nigerian market out of business.

“The fact that this refinery has been able to bring the price of petrol down should also be considered. This is a factor that can assist FG in controlling Nigeria’s inflation.

“It is unthinkable that a fellow Nigerian will invest $23 billion in a 650,000 barrels per day refinery aimed at ameliorating the sufferings of the Nigerian masses only for a workers’ union from outside to dictate outrageous terms to him.”

Akintola said such a union should be treated as an economic saboteur, adding, “It is high time FG cut the wings of extremist union leaders. Times like this call for strong leadership. FG must be decisive.”