An economist, Kelvin Emmanuel, has faulted the ongoing strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), urging unions to focus on the plight of low-income petrol workers.
In an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, Emmanuel questioned why workers in retail filling stations and tanker drivers earned below ₦100,000 monthly, despite the existence of the unions.
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“The fuel attendants at over 30,000 retail stations across Nigeria earn between ₦25,000 and ₦30,000 monthly.
“Are they not oil and gas workers? Why are PENGASSAN and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) not fighting for their rights?” he said on Tuesday.
The economist also noted that drivers under NUPENG earn between ₦60,000 and ₦70,000 monthly, often below living standards.
He criticised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for failing to advocate for over 100,000 petrol attendants.
“The question is, are they not oil and gas workers? Many earn below minimum wage, which is illegal. Those attendants depend on tips from customers to survive,” he stated.
Nigeria’s Global Image
The economist warned that the PENGASSAN–Dangote dispute could damage Nigeria’s global image.
According to him, the standoff questions President Bola Tinubu’s repeated assurances to investors.
“Whatever happens with this impasse will speak volumes to foreign investors. Investors are asking if it makes sense to deploy capital to Nigeria’s real sector only to be held to ransom,” he stated.
He added, “If you check the Trade Union Act, there is an established process for such disputes.”
Right To Hire, Fire
Emmanuel further said that Dangote Refinery, being a private company, had the right to restructure.
“Dangote is not NNPC, not the government. The company has the right to hire and fire,” he argued.
He added that the refinery had faced internal sabotage for months, prompting management to reorganise and described the strike as “unlawful.”
“If PENGASSAN, NUPENG, or TUC feel aggrieved, they must follow due process,” he stated.
PENGASSAN Rejects Court Order
Meanwhile, PENGASSAN has vowed to continue its nationwide strike despite a restraining order from the National Industrial Court.
In a memo signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the union dismissed reports of a valid injunction and urged its members to maintain the strike until further notice.
Mediation Efforts
On Monday, a meeting between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery, convened by the Federal Government, ended in a deadlock after nine hours.
The meeting, chaired by Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi and Minister of State Nkiruka Onyejeocha, is expected to reconvene on Tuesday.
PENGASSAN members also staged protests in Abuja, barricading the NNPCL headquarters and regulatory agencies.
The union accused Dangote Refinery of illegally sacking 800 Nigerian workers and replacing them with “over 2,000 Indians.”
Trade Union Congress Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, backed PENGASSAN, saying, that “no corporation will be allowed to trample on workers’ rights”.
Toro demanded reinstatement of dismissed staff and warned of a broader strike.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery denied breaching labour rights, insisting its restructuring was necessary for safety and efficiency.
The company described the union’s actions as “criminal conduct” and urged government intervention to protect Nigeria’s energy sector.
