Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on President Bola Tinubu to dissolve the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) if the union continues to prioritise private interests over the national good.
The lawmaker made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, following PENGASSAN’s announcement of a nationwide strike over the dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Ndume argued that the strike, which the refinery described as an attempt to “weaponise hardship against Nigerians,” highlights the union’s focus on sectional interests rather than broader national welfare.
“This PENGASSAN is supposed to serve the interest of Nigerians, and their profession has to do with petroleum product that affects everything,” he said.
He stressed that membership in the union should not be compulsory, noting, “This is Nigeria, which is supposed to be a free country. You can’t force someone to be in the union.”
The senator criticised PENGASSAN for attempting to “impose demands” on a private enterprise.
“Dangote is a private businessman who established a refinery. You can’t come and impose anything on a private individual. If you want to be a union, then stay out of Dangote,” Ndume said.
He accused the union of exerting undue pressure on Nigerians while workers do not hold ownership of oil and gas resources.
“They are just workers. How can they be asking for more than the owners?” he asked.
Ndume also questioned the union’s lack of action during critical periods in the oil sector, citing the removal of fuel subsidies and the failure of refineries that increased dependence on imports.
“Where were they when the subsidy was removed and the fuel price rose to N1000? Where were they when the refineries stopped working and we were depending on imports?” he said.
Urging decisive intervention from the presidency, Ndume stated, “The best thing is for the president to sign an executive order calling them off. He has the right to dissolve them. In this case, I don’t mind if he acts like a dictator because some situations require very drastic measures.”
