Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised fresh concerns about the faceoff between Dangote Refinery and oil unions in the country.
The former Governor of Anambra State stated that the crisis has the potential to create further suffering for the already struggling citizens of Nigeria if not addressed quickly.
He also accused the federal government of failing to take action capable of resolving the impasse between Dangote and members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Speaking via a statement on Monday, Peter Obi called on the federal government to quickly intervene in the dispute.
“I am worried about the lack of response by the Government to the threat and eventual commencement of a strike by PENGASSAN, which is already having a very adverse impact on Nigerian citizens and the Nigerian economy.
“I strongly appeal to the Federal Government to intervene quickly to resolve this dispute in a manner that protects the interests of the Nigerian people, Nigerian workers, Nigerian Investors and the Economy at large. The protection of these interests in a win-win manner is the primary responsibility of any responsible Government.
“The Federal Government must learn to nip in the bud the labour crisis that has the potential of creating further suffering for the already struggling citizens of our dear country,” he wrote on .
However, Naija News reports that as a result of the current impasse, the federal government has summoned parties involved in the crisis to a roundtable discussion as part of its efforts to reach an amicable resolution.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, who made this known on Sunday, disclosed that invitations have been extended to both the leadership of PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency meeting in his office on Monday for the conciliation of their dispute.
