"Dangote is an institution, how we treat him will determine how outsiders will judge us" — VP Shettima warns PENGASSAN.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to respect and protect the multibillion-dollar investment of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, describing it as essential to the nation’s economic stability and growth.

He emphasized that the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery represents a national asset critical to Nigeria’s industrial expansion and global competitiveness. 

His remarks came amid the recent industrial action by oil workers under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the alleged dismissal of about 800 unionized employees. 

IThe strike was later suspended after the intervention of Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Shettima lauded Dangote’s decision to invest heavily in Nigeria rather than taking his capital abroad. 

He said, “Aliko Dangote, he’s not an individual, he’s an institution, and he’s a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament. And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, in Amazon, or in Google, he probably might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now. But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria.”

The Vice President also urged labour unions and the private sector to exercise restraint and patriotism when handling industrial disputes, warning that rash actions could jeopardize the nation’s progress.

“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us. I’m not coming to you as a partisan,” he added.

Aliko Dangote, Wale Edun, PENGASSAN currently meeting over labour dispute.

Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote refinery, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) are currently meeting over the ongoing labour dispute, TheCable understands.

The meeting, which was moved to the office of the national security adviser (NSA), follows the failure of earlier talks between the two parties to resolve the lingering industrial dispute.

Abubakar Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning. Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment, and representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), are present at the meeting.

The ministry of labour first convened a reconciliation session on Monday, with Dingyadi and Nkiruka Onyejeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, in attendance.

On September 29, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called on the management of Dangote refinery to reverse the employment termination of “over 800 Nigerian employees”.

The directive comes amid a dispute between the refinery and PENGASSAN over the mass dismissal of employees.

PENGASSAN, on September 26, instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike over the dismissal.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, Dangote refinery asked Nigerians to stand against the PENGASSAN and the TUC over the industrial action against the company.

The refinery described the TUC as “zombie-like” for declaring full solidarity with PENGASSAN and threatening a nationwide strike “without making any effort to verify the claims on which the action was based”.

PENGASSAN Orders Immediate Gas Supply Shutdown to Dangote Refinery.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered an immediate suspension of gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The latest development has escalated the growing labour dispute with the company.

In a letter dated September 26 and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, PENGASSAN directed all its members, especially those in the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) branch, to halt gas supply to the multibillion-dollar refinery without delay.

The directive also includes shutting crude oil supply valves and suspending loading operations for vessels destined for the facility.

The union accused the refinery’s management of unlawfully disengaging unionised workers and launching a “mission of misinformation and propaganda” instead of engaging in genuine dialogue with organised labour.

“This action is a necessary response to defend the constitutional rights of workers to freely associate and unionise,” the letter stated. “Injury to one! Injury to all!”

The confrontation follows reports that the company recently laid off more than 800 Nigerian workers — a decision PENGASSAN described as “anti-labour, insensitive, and unacceptable.” The union vowed to resist the move through nationwide solidarity actions unless the decision is reversed.

The Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, is Africa’s largest petroleum refining facility and Nigeria’s biggest domestic source of refined products. Since commencing partial operations, it has been central to the country’s efforts to reduce fuel imports and stabilise local supply.