₦airaland Forum

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commended President Bola Tinubu for his timely intervention in averting what it described as “the disruptive actions” of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria against the company.

In a statement on Sunday, the company said the President’s leadership, through his ministers and senior government officials, ensured the restoration of order and stability to the energy sector at a critical moment.

Recall that PENGASSAN had last week shut down critical oil and gas facilities over allegations that the Dangote refinery sacked 800 workers who joined the union.

The intervention of the Federal Government restored normalcy as PENGASSAN suspended the strike on Wednesday.

“Dangote Refinery is grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for his intervention, through his ministers and senior officials, which resulted in the abatement of the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN against the refinery,” the statement read.

According to the company, among the key government officials who worked “tirelessly” to restore normalcy were Nigeria’s security chiefs, led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr Adeola Ajayi; and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Mohammed Mohammed.

The refinery also commended “other senior government officials who worked untiringly and determinedly into the wee hours of several nights to avert the declared disruption of Nigeria’s energy sector by anarchists and agents of darkness.”

These, it noted, included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Dingyadi; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, saying, “We remain very grateful to these officials for their patriotism and national service.”

Dangote Refinery also extended heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians for their overwhelming public support during the crisis.

“To Nigerians of all walks of life, we owe you more than a debt of gratitude. Your support for our righteous cause was both humbling and overwhelming. We heard your supportive voices and words of encouragement literally in all the street corners and media channels of Nigeria and were energised and strengthened thereby,” it said.

The company further accused unnamed individuals of working against the nation’s progress, saying, “You gave us hope and reinforced our belief in the Nigerian nation and people as the backbone of our enterprise. Be assured that we would continue to work for and in your interest and persist in always protecting that interest against rent seekers, economic saboteurs and economic squatters.”

Dangote Refinery lauded its workers for their loyalty and commitment during the industrial tension, noting that they stood firm “even in the face of provocative and inciting comments and directives from detractors and naysayers who do not wish us and indeed Nigeria well.”

“To our loyal workers, who ensured that our operations were not disrupted even for a second, we thank and appreciate you. The strength of Dangote Group lies in our people and their unalloyed dedication and allegiance to our cause, mission and vision,” the statement read.

The refinery reaffirmed its status as one of Nigeria’s foremost employers, describing Dangote Group as “a model private sector player committed to fair employment practices and national economic development.”

“Perhaps, we should mention, at this point, that the Dangote Group, with due modesty, is recognised as one of Nigeria’s model employers of labour and the largest private sector employer in the country as well as the largest contributor to Nigeria’s tax revenues,” it said.

The company also praised the Nigerian judiciary for standing up for the truth and protecting the rule of law “in the face of provocation, saying the judicial institution proved itself as the bastion of hope for all.

It accused PENGASSAN of refusing to accept being served copies of the court order.

“One institution that we revere and must loudly acknowledge is the Nigerian judiciary. They stood up for the truth and proved themselves as the bastion of hope for all of us. It is unfortunate that the oligarchs publicly displayed their rascality and lawlessness by refusing to accept service of valid court orders that sought to restrain their destructive actions. Regardless, the fact that the judiciary came to society’s rescue at our critical moment of need, notwithstanding the intimidation of the hypocritical and sabotaging oligarchs, sets the judicial institution out as a just arbiter,” the company noted.

The refinery reaffirmed its “unwavering dedication to national service and industrial growth”, pledging to continue serving the Nigerian people faithfully and diligently “through the uninterrupted production of petroleum products.”

“Our commitment to the Nigerian nation and our pact with its people remain undiluted, undiminished and unalterable notwithstanding the distractions from our detractors and the saboteurs in our midst,” the statement concluded.

The refinery had been at the centre of a major dispute with PENGASSAN, which accused the company of sacking its members. The union shut down operations at the refinery and disrupted fuel supply nationwide before the intervention of government restored calm.

The crisis came on the heels of earlier tensions between the refinery and industry unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, over supply and pricing disagreements.

Abdul05:
Let 'us be honest....if tinubu hadn't stepped in , Nigeria could have gone dark.Dangote may have its faults and PENGASSAN's threat was like bombing the country to punish one man.

Labour rights matter but the national interest comes first.

FarahAideed:
Dangote is is just talking , we should all know who the big masquerade behind Pengassan is ..

LegendHero:
Abeg tell us. Who is the big masquerade?

Let us hear the exclusive.

Abdul05:
Let 'us be honest....if tinubu hadn't stepped in , Nigeria could have gone dark.Dangote may have its faults and PENGASSAN's threat was like bombing the country to punish one man.

Labour rights matter but the national interest comes first.

emmanuelewumi:
Because he does not have a choice but to step in

Just watch out, Ogunlesi and Hakeem Bello Osagie, visited him during the strike. One of the things discussed was partnership in the Energy sector and another Refinery will come up in Lagos. Probably around Badagry axis

FarahAideed:
Comrade Festus Osifo

Please spell words correctly when you post, and try to use perfect grammar and punctuation.

FarahAideed:
So you really beleive he stepped in good faith? Hahaha

Tochitee:
Peter obi and his rodents said tinubu want to ruin dangotes business.

FarahAideed:
So you really beleive he stepped in good faith? Hahaha

emmanuelewumi:
Because he does not have a choice but to step in

Just watch out, Ogunlesi and Hakeem Bello Osagie, visited him during the strike. One of the things discussed was partnership in the Energy sector and another Refinery will come up in Lagos. Probably around Badagry axis

beardedboy:
God will judge his faith. What concerns us as humans is his actions. And this particular action is okay.

But to prevent Dangote from completing a villain arc, Nigeria must get several other refineries and they or their workers must never be allowed to form any union.

amaridigital:
Tinubu lobbied for the Refinery to be built in Lagos state and you think a man like that would want to destroy such a company? Are you comparing Tinubu with IPOB destroyers? An investment worth over #40 Trillion?

FarahAideed:
So you really beleive he stepped in good faith? Hahaha

Abdul05:
Let 'us be honest....if tinubu hadn't stepped in , Nigeria could have gone dark.Dangote may have its faults and PENGASSAN's threat was like bombing the country to punish one man.

Labour rights matter but the national interest comes first.