- Safiu Kehinde
Stanbic IBTC Bank founder, Atedo Peterside, and renowned Nigerian clergyman, Bishop Matthew Kukah, have charged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and other labour union to channel their concerns and grievances borne out Dangote Refinery operations to relevant statutory bodies rather than embark on strike actions that harm Nigerians.
Peterside and Kukah gave the charge in a joint statement issued alongside other notable Nigerians and public figures.
Notable among the signatories are the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi; ex-Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Enough is Enough (EiE) Executive Director, Opeyemi Adamolekun; and former NNPC CEO, Ibrahim Waziri.
Also included in the statement signatories are Nigerian activitst and Bring Back Our Girls Convener, Aisha Yesufu; former World Bank Vice President, Arunma Oteh; and ex-Labour Party’s Women leader, Dudu Manuga, amongst others.
In what was considered their take on the recent dispute between Dangote and PENGASSAN, the group faulted the latter’s industrial action which paralysed the oil and gas sector.
They described Dangote Refinery as a national symbol, highlighting its impact on the daily lives of Nigerians since its commencement of operations.
The group in the statement shared on X on Wednesday by Nigerian Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, warned that embarking on strike and threatening the refinery will send wrong signals to both domestic and foreign investors.
While acknowledging that workers right must be respected, the group maintained that the right should not become a tool to hold the country’s economy hostage.
They called for social responsibility and accountability while urging PENGASSAN and other union to channel their grievances to statutory bodies such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) rather than harming Nigerians with strike.
The group commended the Federal Government for its intervention and resolution of the clash.
The statement read; “We, the undersigned, note with concern the recent disputes and disruptions surrounding the Dangote Refinery.
“Although the immediate crisis has been de-escalated through government mediation and renewed dialogue between labour and management, the episode raises important lessons for Nigeria’s economic future.
“For decades, Nigerians endured the collapse of government-owned refineries, the waste of trillions of naira in subsidies, and dependence on fuel imports.
“These failures left citizens exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity.
“In this context, the Dangote Refinery represents more than a private venture; it is a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve.
“Already, the refinery has begun to ease supply pressures, with petrol prices in some parts of the country dropping from around NI ,500 per litre to about N820 — a 55% reduction.
“This impact on transport costs and food prices offers Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity can improve daily life. It also signals to investors at home and abroad that industry, rather than speculation, can still thrive in Nigeria.
“However, the strikes and threats that accompanied this transition send the wrong signals.
“Industrial disputes, if not carefully managed, risk discouraging both domestic and foreign investment at a time when Nigeria most needs capital and innovation.
“A refinery of this scale is a national lifeline, with profound consequences for jobs, energy security, and inflation.
“We wish to underscore three principles:
“Workers’ rights must be respected. The Constitution guarantees the right to organise and to demand fair treatment. No enterprise can succeed without motivated, fairly treated workers.
” Markets and productivity must be protected. The right to organise cannot become a license to hold the economy hostage. Productive enterprises that lower costs and create jobs must be safeguarded.
“Social responsibility and accountability must remain central. Investors of this magnitude must operate transparently, uphold fair labour practices, and reinvest in the communities they serve.
“We also note that concerns about monopoly or market dominance should not be settled by disruptive industrial action. Nigeria has institutions, such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), that are mandated to assess such claims.
“Where there are legitimate issues of pricing or dominance, the proper channel is through these statutory bodies, not strikes that harm ordinary Nigerians.
“Moreover, as has been noted, there is no legal monopoly here; others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise.
“We commend the Federal Government, labour unions, and Dangote Refinery for stepping back from confrontation and resolving this dispute through dialogue. We urge that this spirit of constructive engagement become a template for the future.
“At the same time, we must stress the dangers that such disruptions pose to investor confidence, economic stability, and Nigeria’s strategic interest in reducing dependency on imports.
“This crisis is not about a refinery or any other business. It is about the direction of our economy: whether we will continue in a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a future anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity.
“The Dangote refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should not be undermined but strengthened — as a signal to other industrialists that investing in Nigeria’s future is worthwhile.