Obi seeks FG’s intervention, as NLC mobilises for full-blown strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, on Monday, began mobilisation of all its affiliate members ahead of a full-blown nationwide workers’ strike, as Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, urged the federal government to urgently resolve the ongoing disagreement between the Dangote Group and the workers in the oil and gas industry to avert a strike.

The NLC, in a letter issued on Monday to all affiliate members, said, “This serves as a formal and urgent request in response to the protracted and deliberate anti-worker crusade being waged by the Dangote Group against the Nigerian working class.”

In the letter signed by Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, the Union noted that the ongoing battle with PENGASSAN, NUPENG and the Dangote group is “merely a symptom of a deeper sickness; a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity that defines the Group’s industrial relations strategy.”

According to the NLC, ” Dangote Group has operated for too long as a state within a state, flouting Section 40 of our Constitution, violating ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and treating our national labour laws with contempt.

” Their facilities are not workplaces but plantations of exploitation, where the dignity of the worker is systematically crushed to maximise profit for the few.

The Union said the time for pleading and endless, fruitless dialogue is over.

The Union, while stating that it is time for decisive, collective action, called for ” total mobilisation of all Unions and workers, adding that ” All aforementioned affiliate unions are hereby placed on IMMEDIATE AND FULL ALERT”

“You are requested to commence, with immediate effect, preparation for a vigorous and comprehensive unionisation of all workers within every Dangote Group facility falling under your jurisdiction. This is a strategic priority.

” To start full preparation for an engagement with Dangote across the nation. You are requested to immediately begin mobilising your members and resources for a full-scale, decisive engagement against the Dangote Group’s anti-labour stance.

According to the NLC, the action aims to compel the Dangote Conglomerate to ” Unconditionally respect the right of every worker to freely join a union of their choice.

“Cease all forms of intimidation, victimisation, and union-busting activities.

“Submit to the authority of our nation’s labour laws and institutions.

The NLC mandated its members ” to set up an Action Mobilisation Committee and liaise directly with the NLC National Secretariat within the next 72 hours to coordinate strategy, logistics, and communication” adding that”Unity of purpose and action is non-negotiable.

“The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with the resistance of organised labour. No amount of media verbiage and paid hirelings will stop us from fighting for our liberty in the face of apparent Regulatory capture where the state seems to have abdicated its responsibility to hold this behemoth accountable for its breaches of our laws.

” The blood and sweat of Nigerian workers built this conglomerate; we will not let it become a monument to their oppression.”

But Peter Obi, writing on his X handle, expressed worries about what he described as “lack of response by the Government to the threat and eventual commencement of a strike by PENGASSAN, which is already having a very adverse impact on Nigerian citizens and the Nigerian economy.”

He appealed to the government for urgent action to halt the impasse

“I strongly appeal to the Federal Government to intervene quickly to resolve this dispute in a manner that protects the interests of the Nigerian people, Nigerian workers, Nigerian Investors and the Economy at large. The protection of these interests in a win-win manner is the primary responsibility of any responsible Government.

“The Federal Government must learn to nip in the bud the labour crisis that has the potential of creating further suffering for the already struggling citizens of our dear country”

Obi’s concern followed the inability of the meeting called by Muhammad Dingyardi, Minister of Labour and Employment, to broker peace between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, as at the time of filng this report.

Recall that PENGASSAN began a full-scale strike on Monday, stalling operations in the oil and gas industry, a situation that has not gone down well with the Federal Government.

The development prompted the Minister of Labour and Employment to summon both warring parties to a conciliatory meeting, which is currently taking place at the Ministry headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, top officials from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Engineering Matters; and senior representatives of key oil and gas regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Shortly before they broke into closed-door session, Dingyadi expressed displeasure over the latest action by PENGASSAN, describing it as one of significant national concern.

He admitted that the government initially underestimated the scale of the industrial action until it became clear that the strike had spread beyond Dangote Refinery to affect other critical oil and gas operations, including those of the NNPC.

“What is happening today is very dear to this country, very dear to our economy, and very dear to the security of our nation,” Dingyadi said. “We didn’t know the magnitude of this strike. Initially, we thought it was just about Dangote Refinery, but we have now been informed that it has extended to affect NNPC and other subsidiaries in the oil and gas industry.”

The Labour Minister praised PENGASSAN for its long-standing record as a constructive and peaceful union, emphasising that the group has historically demonstrated deep commitment to the growth and stability of Nigeria’s economy.

“PENGASSAN has always been very peaceful, and we know for a very long time they have never done this kind of thing,” he stated. “We consider them as friends and as people who wish this country well. Their action must be understood as a reflection of deep concerns that deserve urgent and sincere attention.”

Dingyadi, however, revealed that ” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is closely monitoring the situation and is deeply concerned about its potential impact on citizens.

He stressed that the government’s intervention is focused on preventing the crisis from escalating into a national emergency, particularly in ways that would negatively affect ordinary people.

“We want to make sure that this face-off is not extended to the ordinary citizens of the country,” Dingyadi added. “That is why we are taking urgent steps to act as conciliators, to resolve this issue amicably for the good of our workers, our economy, and the spirit of our nation.”

The PENGASSAN’s strike follows disagreement between the management of Dangote refinery, and PENGASSAN over allegations of unfair labour practices, especially with the recent sack of 800 staff members, by the company