Sabotage, Unions, and Nigeria’s Refinery Future: The Dangote Face-off Through the Eyes of a Fifth Column
By Jerry Adesewo
The bitter public showdown between Dangote Petroleum Refinery on one side and PENGASSAN and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the other is already being viewed by many as more than a labour dispute. Some analysts suggest it is a deliberate effort by vested interests, so-called “fifth columnists,” to undermine Nigeria’s energy independence. The refinery, for its part, has pushed back hard, accusing the unions of fomenting unrest and prioritizing their own finances over workers’ welfare.
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This week, the conflict added a new dimension when Senator Ali Ndume publicly urged President Bola Tinubu to “act like a dictator” and issue an executive order to resolve the dispute. Ndume called for drastic measures, including dissolved union leadership and forced compliance, to protect the refinery as a national asset.
The Unions vs. The Refinery: Competing Narratives
Dangote’s official statement paints a picture of unions more interested in check-off dues than workers’ welfare. It described the TUC as “zombie-like” for parroting PENGASSAN’s demands without investigating the facts. The company likewise accused union leadership of being “oligarchs,” motivated by personal enrichment.
Dangote noted that PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo had swiftly demanded dues just 24 hours after workers allegedly unionized, suggesting that financial interests took precedence over collective bargaining. The statement challenged unions to publish audited accounts for a decade, asserting that workers deserve transparency.
In contrast, PENGASSAN and TUC argue that the refinery’s actions amount to unlawful sackings and violations of labour rights. They view their move as protecting workers from managerial overreach and an assertion of their statutory rights.
The Fifth Column Argument
Those who believe sabotage is at work point to the sensitivity of the Dangote project. If fully operational, the refinery could dismantle Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum, threaten entrenched importers, and shift billions of dollars away from rent seekers. Thus, they argue, some powerful interests stand to lose if the refinery succeeds and are seeding discontent through union activism.
In this view, the union demands and threats of nationwide strikes might be less about worker welfare and more about creating instability that gives external actors a justification to hamper or halt operations.
Ndume Calls for Decisive Action
Senator Ndume’s controversial intervention underscores how high the stakes are. In a televised interview, he told President Tinubu to issue an executive order to dissolve union leadership and force the parties back to the table. He said he would “not object if the president acted like a dictator,” reasoning that some crises demand drastic measures.
Ndume accused unions of serving the interests of a few rather than the public and lambasted the culture of corruption and unaccountability. His suggestion of extraordinary executive action has drawn both support and criticism.
The Stakes for Nigeria
The refinery’s success is pivotal to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty. By refining at home, the country stands to cut fuel import costs, preserve foreign reserves, foster job creation, and stabilize supply. A strike or sustained labour unrest at Dangote could cripple those possibilities, weakening public confidence and prolonging Nigeria’s dependence on external suppliers.
If Senator Ndume’s suggestion were acted upon, it would also test constitutional limits, labour rights, and civil liberties. The government would have to balance preserving a national asset against violating rights of association and collective bargaining.
Between Rights and National Interest
The refinery’s accusations are serious, but so are the unions’ claims. Workers deserve protection and representation. But when national survival is on the line, how does one prevent unions from being manipulated by power brokers?
The public deserves clarity: Are PENGASSAN and TUC defending workers, or are they being used by shadow interests to stifle an industrial revolution in oil refining? Dangote’s challenge is to show it respects labour while pursuing its mission. Unions must show they are accountable and transparent, not opaque in their finances.
Senator Ndume’s call for strong presidential action may be provocative, but it reveals the desperation around this dispute. Nigeria cannot live in perpetual energy crisis. The question now is whether the president will act decisively, and constitutionally, to protect a national asset, or allow this quarrel to derail one of the country’s brightest industrial hopes.
Sabotage, Unions, and Nigeria’s Refinery Future: The Dangote Face-off Through the Eyes of a Fifth Column