A coalition of 45 civil society organizations (CSOs) has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for its ongoing confrontation with the Dangote Refinery, urging the union to focus on solutions rather than disruption.
In a statement released on Sunday, the CSOs, which include the Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) and Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative (GoDDI), declared their full support for Dangote Refinery amid the labour dispute.
Speaking jointly through Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe Ude-Umanta, the coalition leaders said PENGASSAN’s actions were unjustified and harmful to Nigeria’s progress.
“If PENGASSAN is truly interested in the welfare of its members and the development of the country, it should consider building its own refinery rather than interfering in the operations of a privately-owned one,” the statement said.
The group challenged PENGASSAN’s legitimacy to meddle in Dangote Group’s internal affairs, especially given its lack of effort in reviving the long-dormant NNPCL-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
The coalition emphasized that the Dangote Refinery, a $20 billion private sector investment, has helped reposition Nigeria as a potential exporter of refined petroleum products, after decades of reliance on imports.
“How can the same people who stood by while national refineries crumbled now turn around to sabotage a private investment that’s bringing pride and hope to the nation?” they asked.
They alleged that PENGASSAN, in the past, contributed to fuel scarcity and industrial unrest for selfish gains and now seeks to derail progress simply because the system is no longer playing to their advantage.
“PENGASSAN has, time and again, acted against the interest of ordinary Nigerians. When there were endless fuel queues, they profited. Now that those queues have vanished due to Dangote’s efforts, they are upset and want to drag us backwards,” the statement read.
The coalition labelled PENGASSAN’s current campaign as “malicious”, describing it as an attempt to destabilize a transformative project that has elevated Nigeria’s global profile.
They called on Nigerians to see through what they termed a “self-serving agenda” and urged relevant authorities to ensure that private investments critical to the country’s economic future are not undermined by union politics.
