Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for what he described as holding the nation “to ransom over a minor labour dispute.”
Speaking on Monday at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, Shettima said the recent nationwide strike by PENGASSAN, following the dismissal of workers by Dangote Refinery, was unnecessary and damaging to Nigeria’s economic reputation.
The association had on 28 September commenced an industrial action after the refinery reportedly sacked more than 800 workers, but suspended the strike on 1 October after the Dangote Group agreed to redeploy the affected employees.
Faulting the union’s decision, Shettima defended Aliko Dangote, describing him as an “economic pillar whose investments must be protected.”
The Vice-President urged both labour unions and employers to handle industrial disputes with caution, reflection, and patriotism, noting that such conflicts should not undermine national stability or investor confidence.
“I wish to 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 maintaining our steadily improving economic fortunes,” he said.
“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN, and Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.”
