Senator Ali Ndume has asked the National Assembly to review Nigeria’s labour laws after the recent strike by oil and gas workers in protest of Dangote Refinery’s actions.
Speaking to the BBC Hausa Service, Ndume said the three-day strike made life harder for ordinary Nigerians until the Federal Government stepped in to settle the dispute.
“The strike brought unnecessary suffering. The price of petrol rose from ₦890 to ₦900, and people were left struggling. We need to review the labour law and make changes,” he emphasized.
The strike started after PENGASSAN protested the sack of hundred of workers at the refinery which Dangote Refinery insists was part of restructuring to meet its work needs and not because of union activity.
The strike, which began on Monday, September 28, was called off on Wednesday, October 1, after the government intervened. However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said the action reduced crude oil production by 16 percent and caused a 30 percent drop in gas trading.
Ndume argued that while workers’ unions deserve protection, they must not use their power to make Nigerians suffer.“If PENGASSAN felt the refinery treated its members unfairly, it should have gone to court, not cut off fuel supply,” he said.
He also reminded Nigerians that the Dangote Refinery is a private business built with billions of dollars, warning that unions must act responsibly when dealing with it.
Ndume calls for labour law review after PENGASSAN-Dangote refinery dispute