Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday faulted the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for holding the country to ransom over what he described as “a minor labour dispute.”
Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in Abuja, Shettima said the oil workers’ union didn’t have to embark on a nationwide strike that paralysed oil operations across the country over a matter that could have been resolved through dialogue.
PENGASSAN declared an indefinite strike on September 28 to protest the dismissal of Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery. The strike disrupted crude oil production and supply activities and was suspended on October 1 after the Dangote Group agreed to redeploy the affected workers.
Shettima, however, criticised the union’s action, saying it sent the wrong signal to investors and undermined national economic stability.
“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN and Nigeria is greater than everyone,” the vice president said.
He reminded labour leaders that the Dangote Group is not just a private company but a national asset whose success reflects Nigeria’s industrial potential.
“Aliko Dangote is not an individual; he is an institution. He is a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament,” Shettima said. “And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might be worth $70 to $80 billion today. But he chose to invest in his country. We owe it to future generations to protect, promote, preserve, and project the interests of this great Nigeria.”
The vice president urged labour unions and the organised private sector to exercise caution and patriotism in resolving disputes, noting that constant industrial disruptions discourage investment and slow national progress.
“I wish to call for caution, retrospection and a deeper sense of patriotism from both the labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industry to maintain our steadily improving economic fortunes,” he said.
Shettima stressed that his remarks were not motivated by partisanship but by a duty to protect national interests. He also tasked the Nigerian Economic Summit Group with prioritising recommendations on sustaining industrial harmony and investor confidence.
“The government will expect priority recommendations from the NESG in addressing this issue, even as it continues to take steps to protect big industry and ensure industrial peace for the nation’s good,” he said.
He explained that the Dangote Refinery project was financed through equity investments, debt financing, and local and foreign loans. He added that the facility must function effectively to meet debt obligations and justify its massive investment.
“This refinery is financed through equity, debt, and loans. It has to function to salvage the debt. We cannot hold the whole nation to ransom for issues that can be amicably settled across the table,” Shettima stated.
He said his position reflected “the true stance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian people,” adding that the administration remains committed to protecting investments while ensuring fairness and harmony between labour and industry.
