Dangote Refinery has condemned the directive by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) of Nigeria for its members across seven oil and gas firms to halt all crude oil and gas supplies to the massive facility.
The refinery described the order as criminal, lawless and economic sabotage.
Naijaonpoint reports that at the heart of the crisis is the dismissal of 800 workers, whom the union said were laid off after exercising their constitutional right to join PENGASSAN.
PENGASSAN also said it would convene an emergency National Executive Council meeting to deliberate on the next phase of action.
Union sources who spoke to Punch confirmed that discussions centred on a potential nationwide strike should Dangote fail to reinstate the sacked workers and address the alleged injustices.
“Should they fail to reverse this barbaric action, the union will have no choice but to act,” said one senior union official. “This isn’t just about Dangote anymore, it’s about setting a precedent.”
Reacting to the directive, Dangote accused the union of plotting to deny Nigerians access to petrol, diesel and cooking gas.
In a statement on Saturday, the company said, “Apart from the lawlessness and criminality inherent in the PENGASSAN’s instruction to its branches, the association’s directive amounts to economic sabotage at multiple levels. In plain language, PENGASSAN has directed its branches to disrupt and stop the supply of petroleum products from the Dangote refinery to Nigerians.
“The products that would be disrupted and stopped include but are not limited to aviation fuel, petrol, kerosene, diesel and cooking gas, all products that are used and required by all stripes of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria, whether high and mighty or lowly and ordinary. In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to so disrupt and introduce insufferable hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians? None that we can see.
“Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to ‘cut off’ gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all. There is also no law in our statute books that would support or enable the PENGASSAN branches having to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all.
“Besides, it constitutes criminal conduct for PENGASSAN or its members to disrupt and/or interfere in any way whatsoever with the contract between Dangote Refinery and its various vendors for the supply of gas and crude oil to the refinery. These supply contracts were not entered into with PENGASSAN; they were entered into by Dangote refinery with third-party vendors and suppliers, and PENGASSAN has no right whatsoever to disrupt and/or interfere with the performance of those contracts.
“The management insisted Nigeria is governed by law and not mob action.
“Perhaps, PENGASSAN needs to be reminded that Nigeria is a country governed by laws. Our laws do not brook self-help and mob action that could introduce mayhem and chaos and easily translate into anarchy.”
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