The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has tackled Vice President Kashim Shettima, over comments that “Nigeria is bigger than the union”, when he condemning the Union’s industrial action in the ongoing face-oof with the Dangote refinery
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo told Newsmen late on Monday that it would take the same action if its members were sacked again.
According to Osifo, PENGASSAN had a mandate to protect the jobs of its members sacked by the Dangote refinery for joining the association. This mandate, he said, would be discharged whenever the need arises.
PENGASSAN had on last week Sunday, September 28, shut down critical oil and gas facilities over Dangote refinery’s sack of 800 workers who joined the Union.
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But the Dangote refinery said it only sacked a few workers, who were accused of sabotaging the facility, saying it was part of the Company’s reorganisation.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Shettima described Dangote as an institution and a pillar of Nigeria’s economic development. He warned that Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN, and no one should hold the country to ransom.
It was the Vice President’s remarks at the event that elicited the latest response from the leadership of PENGASSAN.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
