Labour Unions Must Not Emasculate Dangote to Serve Selfish Interest - Expert

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, has called on labour unions not to undertake actions that undermine the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, noting that it is a strategic investment in the oil and gas sector that the country can’t afford to watch being sabotaged by those seeking to advance selfish interests.

Ubani, who spoke in an interview with Pinnacle Daily, was reacting to recent nationwide strikes by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery were embroiled in a labour dispute last week, which led to a nationwide strike that disrupted oil and gas supply for days, causing significant economic losses in the country.

Ubani, a former Chairman of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) of the Nigeria Bar Association and current Chairman of the NBA Committee on Electoral Reform, said PENGASSAN and other oil and gas unions came into existence when all the refineries were government-owned, but today, the situation has changed with the entry of the Dangote Refinery, which is a private firm.

While stating that the issue of unionism is not something anyone or any entity should impose on the refinery, Ubani stressed that what the government authorities must do is monitor the company to ensure it does not exploit Nigerians.

“But if it is forming a union to emasculate him (Dangote) and begin to bend him to the will of those who want to keep on milking us dry, from the reports we are having, those unions want to increase virtually everything so that they continue milking us dry, but Dangote has come to break that monopoly in order to reduce the unit price of petrol and even diesel,” Ubani stated.

The legal expert maintained that as long as Dangote is working in the interest of Nigerians, PENGASSAN should understand the new reality in the oil sector marked by the emergence of private ownership of oil refineries.

“This is no longer a government entity; it is a private company. He determines how he runs his business in accordance with the law of the land,” Ubani stated.

“As long as Dangote does not in any way want to oppress, exploit or cheat Nigerians, I would think that PENGASSAN is actually pursuing a selfish agenda that would bring so much hardship to Nigerians,” he added.

He queried the rationale behind embarking on the nationwide strike, pointing out that ordinary Nigerians were the ones who suffered it, not Dangote.

“They have gone on strike. Is Dangote suffering it? It is Nigerians that are suffering, queuing up to get fuel. I came into Lagos the other day; I couldn’t buy fuel. I knew how much I spent ordering Uber. So, in what way has PENGASSAN helped me with their selfish demands and selfish actions?” Ubani asked.

On the debate about workers’ right to unionise, the senior advocate clarified that any employee going into a company must sign an agreement, and the workers can be asked to form what he called an “internal union” for collective bargaining while not undermining the interest of the organisation.

He argued that no Dangote employee has come out to complain about union issues, adding that it is only PENGASSAN that is taking action and causing confusion. He said workers who feel their rights have been violated can go to court “but not PENGASSAN coming up and acting like gods of all and trying to cause confusion in the oil and gas sector and telling us they are fighting for unionism.”

He insisted that PENGASSAN’s actions are purely driven by selfish interest. “There are a couple of things PENGASSAN has been doing over the years because it was government refineries, but this (Dangote) is not a government refinery.”

The PENGASSAN strike has continued to generate reactions. Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had on Monday called on PENGASSAN to exercise caution, warning that no group or individual should hold the country to ransom over issues that can be resolved amicably.

Shettima described Dangote as an institution, stressing that how he is treated will determine how the country is perceived by the global community.

Also, in a statement on Tuesday, a coalition of eminent Nigerians, including clerics, civil rights activists, and business leaders, condemned the disruptions caused by the PENGASSAN strike.

The group, including Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah; Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Atedo Peterside; former minister of aviation, Osita Chidoka; executive director of EiE, Opeyemi Adamolekun; Aisha Yesufu and other prominent figures, described the Dangote refinery as “a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve” and called on all parties to embrace dialogue to avoid further disruption of the economy.

“The Dangote refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should be strengthened, not undermined,” they emphasised.

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Victor EZEJA

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Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.