The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned Vice President Kashim Shettima’s stance on the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). NLC President Joe Ajaero said the Vice President’s remarks prioritize the refinery’s interests over the welfare of Nigerian workers. Speaking on World Day for Decent Work, the NLC reiterated its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and promoting decent‑work principles, and warned that the government’s support for the refinery at the expense of employees is “greedy” and undermines the rule of law.
The NLC alleges that the Dangote Group has violated workers’ constitutional rights to freedom of association and to join the trade union of their choice, rights guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international labour conventions. It rejected the Vice President’s claim that the Dangote Group is a “national asset” and should be exempt from labour laws, calling the statement a “national tragedy” and an affront to the rule of law. The congress demanded that all entities operating in Nigeria comply with industrial‑relations legislation, recognize trade unions, and protect workers’ rights.
Calling for an end to the “sacred cow syndrome,” the NLC urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to workers’ rights through decisive action. The crisis between the Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN highlights the challenges Nigerian workers face and the need for stronger enforcement of labour laws. The NLC emphasized the importance of creating robust enforcement frameworks to guarantee compliance, reduce decent‑work gaps, and strengthen labour‑administration institutions for rigorous enforcement of all industrial‑relations statutes.
In its statement, the NLC stressed that no company, regardless of size or connections, can operate outside the law or be “bigger than Nigeria.” It warned that encouraging lawlessness and impunity would erode the country’s institutions and embolden exploitative forces. The NLC’s position reinforces the need for a fair and just labour environment in Nigeria, where workers’ rights are protected and decent‑work principles are upheld.
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