CSOs Rally Behind Dangote Refinery, Urge PENGASSAN to Embrace Dialogue

 CSOs Rally Behind Dangote Refinery, Urge PENGASSAN to Embrace Dialogue.

By Blessing Eze

Business mogul Aliko Dangote has reiterated the scale of commitment behind his $23 billion refinery project, stating, “If the refinery had failed, I was as good as dead.”

In a show of solidarity, over 45 civil society organizations (CSOs), including the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) and the Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative (GoDDI), have called on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to refrain from actions capable of disrupting operations at Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.

The coalition, in a joint statement signed by Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe Ude-umanta, expressed firm support for the refinery’s right to manage its workforce. They emphasized that any dispute arising between management and labour should be resolved through lawful, constructive, and mutually respectful channels.

The CSOs also backed the company’s recent decision to disengage over 3,000 staff, noting that such matters fall within the purview of company policy and Nigeria’s labour laws. They urged both management and unions to prioritize dialogue, collective bargaining, and recognized dispute-resolution mechanisms rather than actions that could undermine private investment or jeopardize workers’ livelihoods.

“As watchdogs of society, we reject undue interference in the operations of private enterprises and encourage all stakeholders to embrace peaceful, lawful, and constructive solutions,” the statement read.

The coalition further appealed to Nigerians to support strategic investments such as the Dangote Refinery, stressing that such ventures are crucial for stabilizing the downstream oil sector, creating jobs, and safeguarding the nation’s economic future.

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