Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action — even if it means acting like a dictator — to resolve the escalating standoff between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Ndume, who represents Borno South, made the call on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time.
“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,” he said.
The crisis began after PENGASSAN accused the Dangote Refinery of unlawfully sacking 800 workers for joining the union. On Saturday, the association directed its members nationwide to down tools, calling the move a violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international conventions on workers’ rights.
Ndume, however, faulted the union, alleging that it was serving private rather than public interests.
“I have long opposed so-called unionism that prioritises the benefits of a few individuals at the expense of the country,” he stated.
The senator also broadened his critique to Nigeria’s political and economic culture, lamenting what he described as the celebration of corruption and questionable wealth.
“In this country, unexplained wealth is being celebrated. Questionable wealth is being celebrated, and that affects our total resources,” he said.
Ndume recalled a time when political leaders faced stricter public accountability.
“When we were growing up, political leaders were under scrutiny in the eyes of the people. People used to go to prison because they could not account for local taxes. But today, corruption has been legitimised, and people don’t think about it. They are even celebrated after being declared as criminals and jailed,” he added.
The standoff between the Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN is one of the most high-profile labour disputes in recent years, with significant implications for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
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