•House of Representatives
Following the recent strike action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its dispute with the Dangote Refinery, the House of Representatives has passed a resolution to safeguard strategic private investments in Nigeria from future industrial actions.
The resolution was adopted after a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Ado Doguwa and Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki was presented on the floor of the House, reports Channels TV.
In the motion, the lawmakers emphasised that the Dangote Refinery is located within a Free Trade Zone (FTZ), and as such, the strike action allegedly violated provisions of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Act.
The Act stipulates a 10-year no-strike rule for investments operating within FTZs.
The House expressed concern that the recent industrial action may have breached the NEPZA Act and warned of the potential consequences such disruptions could have on investor confidence and the country’s economic outlook.
The lawmakers further noted the financial losses incurred during the three-day strike and called on the federal government to urgently intervene and ensure that such disputes are resolved without jeopardizing vital economic assets.
The House also resolved to work on policy frameworks that will prevent similar occurrences in the future and charged its leadership to engage with stakeholders to address the growing concerns around labour actions affecting major private sector investments.
Last month, PENGASSAN members embarked on a strike action in protest of the alleged illegal sacking of over 800 Nigerian workers by the management of the Dangote refinery.
PENGASSAN alleged that the refinery had breached labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions.
It claimed sacked workers were replaced with “over 2,000 Indians,” calling the move an affront to Nigerian workers.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023, denied allegations of mass sacking.
The company insisted the restructuring was necessary for safety and efficiency, and only a small portion of its 3,000 Nigerian staff were affected.
“No law grants PENGASSAN the right to cut off supplies,” it stated, accusing the union of “criminal conduct.”
