THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to cut off gas supply to Dangote Petroleum Refinery in protest of the company’s recent disengagment of workers.

In a statement seen by Economy Post, PENGASSAN directed members in TotalEnergies E&P, Seplat, Rennaisance, Chevron, Oando, NGIC, and Shell Nigerian Gas to immediately shut down gas supply to the 650,000 metric ton (MT) per day refinery in Lagos.

“As you are aware, the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to the exercise of their constitutional right to being unionized. They have gone further on a mission of misinformation and propaganda to justify this illegitimacy rather than engaging meaningfully with us to right the wrong.

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“Consequent to these, you are hereby directed to cut off gas supply to NGIC immediately. All crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut. The loading operation for vessel headed there should be halted immediately.”

It further directed the NGIC chairman to ensure that gas supply to the refinery is cut off effective immediately,” PENGASSAN said.

Dangote refinery had sacked some petroleum workers for what it termed “repeated acts of sabotage.” This happened after unions, including PENGASSAN, resisted the refinery’s decision to stop drivers from joining unions outside its own DTCDA. The matter was later resolved by the State Security Service (SSS) and Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi.

But there were indications that it was yet to be over when the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) accused Dangote Petroleum Refinery days after of targeting to monopolise the market with its planned free distribution of fuel across the nation. The refinery later sacked some of its workers, angering the unions.

But in a statement on Friday, the $20 million refinery said it was a restructuring exercise targeted at protecting its operations and ensuring the safety of employees.

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify recent reports concerning the ongoing reorganisation within its facility. This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency,” the statement read.

The company said only a “very small number of staff were affected” by the restructuring, stating that its workforce remained largely intact. It revealed that over 3,000 Nigerians had continued to work at the refinery.

“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our petroleum refinery at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process,” Dangote said.

Dangote vs NUPENG

Economy Post had reported the rift between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), which nearly crippled the petrol industry.

READ ALSO: DAPPMAN accuses Dangote Refinery of cutting petrol prices after sales to members

NUPENG had accused Dangote refinery of forcing drivers to sign agreements that would prevent them from joining existing unions in the oil and gas industry.

Its President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olufemi, said in a statement that Dangote Group had formed a union known as DTCDA to weaken the ranks of petroleum tanker drivers, noting that it was an unauthorised union for tanker drivers.

“Slavery ended centuries ago, but some unscrupulous capitalists are making efforts to bring it back. Any worker who cannot exercise the right of association is no better than a slave. Ordinary Nigerians should neither encourage nor support slavish working conditions,” the union said.

The union alleged that Dangote Petroleum Refinery was attempting to impose ‘modern slavery’ on Nigerian workers by limiting their right to freedom of association, calling on the citizens to oppose predatory labour practices.