The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi, has strongly condemned the escalating confrontation between petroleum marketers, labour unions, and the Dangote Refinery, describing the situation as “unconscionable” and a major threat to investor confidence in Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Ajayi likened the stance of labour unions to “vultures gathering to devour what should be a jewel of Nigerian manufacturing,” warning that such hostilities could discourage future large-scale investments in the country.
“No investor will commit billions of dollars to build a factory only to see it decimated by industrial disputes,” Ajayi said. He added that industrial disagreements should be resolved through dialogue and legal channels rather than crippling economic activities.
The MAN DG further urged the Federal Government to enforce court injunctions already in place, stressing that the rule of law must guide the resolution of the crisis.
“You cannot shut down an economy, and you cannot disincentivise private sector investment. Everyone is watching. How will anyone who sees what has been done to Dangote now want to come into this country and invest big? That is what an economy like Nigeria needs,” Ajayi argued.
He acknowledged Dangote Refinery’s entry as a significant “disruption” in the petroleum sector but maintained that disputes must be settled through negotiation.
“You cannot browbeat organisations into submission. Labour unions should sheath their swords and engage in dialogue. You can’t force anybody into such matters. It should be condemned,” he added.
The refinery-labour standoff escalated on Sunday after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ordered a nationwide strike over the dismissal of some Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, described the refinery’s action as a violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international conventions. According to him, the decision to down tools followed an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).
In response, the Federal Government appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend the strike action. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, disclosed that the ministry had already opened talks to reconcile both parties and prevent further disruption to the economy.
The Dangote Refinery, a 650,000-barrel-per-day facility, is considered one of Nigeria’s most significant industrial investments. Its prolonged dispute with labour unions, analysts warn, could set a dangerous precedent for the country’s business climate at a time when foreign direct investment is already under pressure.
