The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has declared its solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the push for full unionisation of employees at the Dangote Refinery and its allied companies.
In a statement on Monday, PENGASSAN accused the refinery management of resisting efforts by both unions to organise workers since the facility’s inception, despite multiple diplomatic engagements.
“It is with deep concern that PENGASSAN observes the increasing resistance to unionisation at the Dangote Refinery. The continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated,” the statement read.
The association insisted that all employees, including petroleum tanker drivers, must be allowed to freely join trade unions, citing International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and Nigerian labour laws guaranteeing the right to organise and bargain collectively.
PENGASSAN warned that if the situation remains unresolved, it would have “no option but to join in shutting down refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests.”
The union urged all stakeholders, including management and regulators, to begin immediate and constructive dialogue to avert industrial disruption, warning that failure to respect workers’ rights could have ripple effects across the oil and gas sector.
“We pledge our support to NUPENG in this vital mission,” PENGASSAN said, adding that the unions remain committed to building a fair and equitable labour environment at the facility.
