By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The labour face-off with the Dangote Group has taken a new twist as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday declared full support for the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over the ongoing dispute at the Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), warned that its members could also withdraw their services if the refinery’s management continues to resist unionisation of tanker drivers and other employees.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN accused the refinery of persistently blocking workers from joining labour unions despite several rounds of dialogue.
“All diplomatic efforts to persuade the company’s management have so far not yielded the desired result. The denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated,” the statement read.
The association said it is not only demanding full unionisation of Petroleum Tanker Drivers but also of all categories of staff working at the refinery and its allied companies.
Okugbawa stressed that workers’ rights to organise and bargain collectively are guaranteed by both the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and Nigerian labour laws.
He warned that if the standoff continues, PENGASSAN may have no option but to join NUPENG in shutting down refinery operations.
“We urge all stakeholders to engage in immediate and constructive dialogue. Failure to respect workers’ rights will have consequences that extend beyond the refinery and impact the entire oil and gas industry,” he said.
The move signals a growing united front by organised labour, raising fresh concerns about possible disruptions in the petroleum sector if the dispute drags on.