Battle Between Dangote and PENGASSAN: Powerful Northern Senator Tells Tinubu What To Do

• Senator Ali Ndume urged President Bola Tinubu to dissolve PENGASSAN if it continues pursuing private over national interests
• Ndume criticised the union’s strike over Dangote Refinery sackings, accusing it of overstepping its role and “holding Nigerians by the neck"
• The Federal Government has begun talks with both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery to resolve the nationwide strike crisis

FCT, Abuja - Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno South, has urged President Bola Tinubu to dissolve the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Nudme said that the call was on the condition of if it continues to pursue what he described as private rather than national interests.

Ndume accuses union of misplaced priorities

In an interview during Prime Time on ARISE Television on Monday, September 29, Ndume condemned the union for calling a nationwide strike in response to the retrenchment of 800 employees at the Dangote Refinery.

"This PENGASSAN is to be a service in the interest of Nigerians, and their business is all petroleum product that affects everything," Ndume stated.

"This is Nigeria, that should be a free country. You cannot make a person join the union," he said.

PENGASSAN accused of overstepping boundaries

The senator blamed PENGASSAN for going beyond its authority in trying to make a demand upon a privately-owned factory.

"Dangote is a private individual who has built a refinery. You cannot just storm in and demand anything from a private individual. If you need to be a union, then mind your own business, leave Dangote alone," he stated.

Ndume: Workers ‘holding Nigerians by the neck’

Ndume claimed the group had Nigerians "by the neck," and the nation's oil and gas resources did not belong to employees, according to Daily Trust article.

"They are workers. Why do they become more demanding than the owners? Where were they when we removed subsidy and increased the fuel price to ₦1000? Where were they when our refineries broke down and we had to rely on importation?" he asked.

Tinubu urged to intervene

The legislator invited President Tinubu to act quickly and implored that an executive order should be made against the union, according to Vanguard.

"The worst would be for the president to use an executive order to call them back. He can dissolve them. In this instance, I don't care if he behaves like a dictator because some circumstances require extremely drastic measures," Ndume added.

PENGASSAN had declared a nationwide strike in protest over the sacking of employees at the Dangote Refinery.

The Federal Government is currently holding talks with both sides in a bid to resolve the dispute.

Dangote defends workers sack

Previously, Legit.ng reported that the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has defended its decision to lay off some employees. The refinery explained that the decision is a restructuring process necessary o protect operations from repeated acts of sabotage.

In a statement, the refinery said the exercise was not arbitrary but aimed at addressing security concerns and safeguarding staff. It confirmed that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the plant.

Source: Legit.ng