4 weeks ago
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Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah, alongside a conjugation of salient Nigerians, has cautioned that the ongoing quality betwixt the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) could undermine capitalist assurance and derail efforts to revive Nigeria’s home refining capacity.
In a associated connection issued connected Tuesday, the group, which includes 12 different eminent Nigerians acknowledged that authorities mediation and renewed dialog had helped to de-escalate the situation but warned that specified concern conflicts hazard sending antagonistic signals to some home and overseas investors.
“We, the undersigned, enactment with interest the caller disputes and disruptions surrounding the Dangote Refinery. Although the contiguous situation has been de-escalated done authorities mediation and renewed dialog betwixt labour and management, the occurrence raises important lessons for Nigeria’s economical future,” the connection work successful part.
The radical noted that for decades, Nigeria suffered from the illness of government-owned refineries, the discarded of nationalist funds done substance subsidies, and dependence connected imports, challenges that near citizens exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity.
“In this context, the Dangote Refinery represents much than a backstage venture; it is simply a nationalist awesome of what bold home concern tin achieve,” they stated.
According to the group, the refinery has already begun to easiness proviso pressures, with petrol prices reportedly dropping from ₦1,500 per litre to astir ₦820, a 55% simplification successful immoderate areas, an betterment that has positively impacted transport and nutrient prices.
“This interaction connected transport costs and nutrient prices offers Nigerians a glimpse of however section productivity tin amended regular life. It besides signals to investors astatine location and overseas that industry, alternatively than speculation, tin inactive thrive successful Nigeria,” they added.
However, they warned that strikes and threats accompanying specified concern transitions could discourage much-needed investment.
“Industrial disputes, if not cautiously managed, hazard discouraging some home and overseas concern astatine a clip erstwhile Nigeria astir needs superior and innovation. A refinery of this standard is simply a nationalist lifeline, with profound consequences for jobs, vigor security, and inflation.”
The connection was co-signed by notable figures including educationist Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, activistic Aisha Yesufu, economist Arunma Oteh, concern banker Atedo Peterside, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, and others specified arsenic Labour Party National Women Leader Dudu Mamman Manuga, Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II (16th Emir of Kano), Obonganwan Barbara Etim James, Opeyemi Adamolekun, Osita Chidoka, and Senator Sola Akinyede.
The radical called for a balanced attack that protects workers’ rights, ensures marketplace stability, and promotes firm accountability.
“Workers’ rights indispensable beryllium respected. The Constitution guarantees the close to organise and to request just treatment. No endeavor tin win without motivated, reasonably treated workers,” they said.
“Markets and productivity indispensable beryllium protected. The close to organise cannot go a licence to clasp the system hostage. Productive enterprises that little costs and make jobs indispensable beryllium safeguarded.”
“Social work and accountability indispensable stay central. Investors of this magnitude indispensable run transparently, uphold just labour practices, and reinvest successful the communities they serve.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the informing came amid caller concern enactment by PENGASSAN, which unopen down captious lipid and state facilities implicit claims that the Dangote Refinery dismissed 800 workers who joined the union.
While the refinery denied the figure, insisting that lone a fewer workers progressive successful acts of sabotage were affected arsenic portion of an interior reorganisation, the onslaught led to substance shortages, losses successful lipid and state output, and a driblet successful powerfulness procreation nationwide.
The quality was resolved pursuing Federal Government intervention, with PENGASSAN suspending its onslaught aft the Dangote Group agreed to redeploy affected workers to different concern units.
Despite the truce, the terms of cooking state remains high, averaging ₦2,000 per kilogram successful Lagos and different large cities arsenic of Monday, acold supra the pre-dispute terms of astir ₦900 per kilogram.
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