President Bola Tinubu has called for caution and retrospection in handling the industrial dispute between the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

The summit’s theme was “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030.”

The President said the government was taking steps to protect major industries and guarantee industrial harmony for the good of the nation.

“Aliko Dangote is not an individual; he is an institution,” Tinubu said.
“He chose to invest in this country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, and preserve this investment.

“I therefore call for caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism from both labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving their relationship — in the interest of all Nigerians.”

Tinubu also cautioned trade unions against holding the nation to ransom over industrial disputes.

“Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN and every one of us here,” he said.
“This is a refinery financed through a combination of equity investment and loans from local and foreign banks. Therefore, the refinery must function to service its debt.”

The Federal Government had recently brokered peace between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery management.

PENGASSAN had earlier directed its members to stop gas supply and withdraw services from the refinery, accusing the company of terminating the employment of more than 800 of its members.

Dangote Refinery, however, explained that the disengagement was part of an ongoing restructuring exercise within the company.