PENGASSAN: Muslim Media Group Calls For Responsible Unionism

Following the strike action embarked upon on Monday by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) because of its dispute with Dangote Refinery, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMPN) has called for responsible unionism in the country.

It said Nigeria needs a responsible union that serves the interests of the masses rather than those of a few individuals and their personal interests.

The national coordinator of MMPN, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, said union or group interests must never be used to disrupt services to the country’s citizens.

He described the PENGASSANS as “highly irresponsible and unpatriotic,” condemning PENGASSAN, TUC, and other industrial and labour unions participating in the “illegal strike declared by PENGASSAN.”

Ibrahim further described the unions’ action as a direct attack on the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “who has been working hard on the growth of the nation’s economy for the welfare of Nigerian citizens.”

“It is highly shameful to note that PENGASSAN, which claimed to parade some intellectuals in its membership, could descend so low as to call for a strike without following due process  It is not new that public or private organisations could carry out certain re-organisation and rationalise its operation; therefore calling for illegal strike can never be solution to such a problem but roundtable discussion.

“We, therefore, called on the federal government not to treat this matter lightly but with seriousness by invoking relevant laws that deal with saboteurs and non-state actors that use their powers to disrupt national services, especially oil, power and gas, that deal with the nation’s survival.”