Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of prioritising union dues and personal interests above workers’ welfare, following renewed threats of industrial action.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the refinery criticised the TUC for declaring “full solidarity” with PENGASSAN and threatening a nationwide strike without first verifying the basis of the allegations against its management.
Quoting an old saying, the refinery remarked: “He who hears only one side and delivers judgment without hearing the other is a fool. Unfortunately, the TUC has put itself in that position. Without listening to Dangote Refinery, it has pronounced us guilty and now parrots PENGASSAN’s position, zombie-like, calling for national industrial action.”
The company alleged that the unions’ actions are motivated solely by a desire to secure check-off dues, citing comments by PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, during a recent interview on Channels Television. According to the refinery, Osifo admitted that the union demanded dues just a day after workers allegedly unionised.
“PENGASSAN and TUC are two peas in a pod,” the statement read. “Their interests begin and end with themselves and the oligarchs that run them. Monthly check-off dues, subscriptions, and scams that fund their lifestyles are their real priority. Even Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN President, openly admitted this on national television.”
The refinery noted that Osifo told Channels TV that workers unionised on a Monday, and by Tuesday, PENGASSAN had written Dangote Refinery to demand deductions at source. “If we must believe Mr. Osifo’s account, the oligarchs in PENGASSAN could not wait 24 hours before seeking their dues. And on
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