News Investigators/ An economic expert, Yusha’u Aliyu, has emphasised the need to address potential sabotage arising from trade union industrial actions, in light of the growing domestic refining capacity offered by the Dangote Refinery.
Mr Aliyu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s National broadcast on 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.
The president had said that the country had made notable advancements by refining Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) domestically for the first time in four decades, establishing itself as the continent’s leading exporter of aviation fuel.
Mr Aliyu, while describing the domestic refining capacity of Dangote Refinery as an added potential for greatness, underscored the need to correct potential inefficiency from the industrial action of trade unionism.
Recall that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had been in a feud with the Dangote Refinery over alleged anti-labour practices.
However, the Federal Government on Tuesday through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari-Dingyadi, brokered a truce between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery’s management.
The expert warned against allowing primordial sentiment to determine the outcome of an industrial unrest.
“NUPENG AND PENGASSAN are trade unions and Dangote is an industrialist with a National pedigree.
“If we allow primordial sentiment to determine the outcome of an industrial unrest, we are not fair to Nigerians and the wise investment of Dangote.
“Workers welfare is important, but Nigerians welfare is supreme. It’s my opinion that an employer of hundreds of thousands workforce for decades cannot overnight throwaway committed labour out of share wickedness.
“Dangote has plenty of rivals and enemies within and outside his business. However, the both unions and the refinery management must consider best global practice in the interest of the national development,” he said.
The expert also commented the success recorded by Dangote refinery in putting down 50 per cent of previous PMS import.
“With the commencement of refining capacity of Dangote refinery, the Import bill of Nigeria is reduced by 50 per cent and this has increased the foreign exchange stability.
“In addition, the refining capacity has decreased foreign exchange demand and increased Nigeria’s trade surplus,” he said.
NAN