The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticised Vice President Kashim Shettima over his recent comments defending the Dangote Group, saying no company, no matter how powerful, is above Nigeria’s labour laws.
The labour body made this known in a statement on Tuesday to mark the World Decent Work Day. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, described Shettima’s remarks as a “national tragedy” that suggests wealth and influence can override the rights of workers.
Ajaero accused the Dangote Group of violating workers’ fundamental rights to freedom of association and union membership as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, Labour Act, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
He said the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) was only protecting its members from exploitation, not sabotaging national interest as claimed by the Vice President.
“We state unequivocally to Vice President Shettima: No company, no matter how big, ‘strategic’, or well-connected, can operate outside the law or be bigger than Nigeria. If the Dangote Refinery is to be granted rights and privileges above the law, then the government must be prepared for the storms such injustice will inevitably unleash. There can be no peace without justice,” Ajaero declared.
The statement by the labour leadervfollows recent reports of about 800 workers being dismissed from the $20 billion Dangote Refinery after they joined PENGASSAN.
Vice President Shettima had earlier downplayed the situation, describing it as a “minor industrial issue” and warning that the refinery, a key investment in Nigeria’s economy, should not be held hostage by labour disputes.
He also hailed Aliko Dangote for his contribution to national development and called for calm among all parties.
Nevertheless, Ajaero insisted that defending such corporate actions undermines Nigeria’s labour institutions and emboldens companies to trample on workers’ rights.