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The Consultative Forum of Arewa (ACF) condemned what described as attempts in progress to undermine the oil refinery of dance and the Petrochimicals Company.
He also requested the protection of the multi -show structure of dollars as a strategic national activity.
In a declaration signed by his secretary of national advertising, Prof. Tanko Baba, ACF expressed concern about what he called “thinly masked attempts” to sabotage the operations of the largest private refinery of Nigeria located in the state of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
The forum has listed several challenges that the structure had faced from the beginning, including problems of crushing oil supply of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), regulatory concerns, controversies on prices and industrial actions of the unions.
“From conception, implementation and inauguration, the refinery of damage has continued to face unstoppable onslaughs,” said Baba.
The forum observed the involvement of unions in the key oil sector such as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (Nupeng) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (Pengassan), citing picket and trade unionization pressures.
ACF has questioned what described as the “strong” pengassan question for the workers of the refinery to join the Union, underlining that adhesion to the Union was a constitutional right, not an obligation.
While affirming the rights of the workers to unionize, the group said that the refinery of crane must first stabilize its operations before these rights are exercised, aligning with the recent public comments by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Mohammed Ali-Cume.
“It is worrying that Pengassan continues to break a subsistence of the orders of the court that exclude the interruptions of the refinery operations,” added Baba.
ACF also expressed support for the management of refinery and legal efforts to protect the structure, warning that the continuous disorders could discourage local and foreign investors.
“Putting the complex of crane complex is a powerful disincentive for national and international investors because it sends the wrong signals,” the group warned.
ACF has issued a series of recommendations, including support for negotiations led by the Federal Government to resolve the impasse;
He also suggested sanctions against Pengassan for challenging the orders of the court and a judicial commission of investigation to investigate the recurring strikes in strategic structures;
Others include a declaration of the refinery of dance and activities similar to strategic national infrastructures and measures to prevent unions from sabotage national interests based on the remains of labor rights.
The forum also invited the unions to be cautious in their commitments, warning against the actions that can inadvertently serve external interests aimed at blocking the industrial growth of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian worker movement must protect itself from playing unconsciously in the hands of international conspiracies determined to frustrate indigenous industrial initiatives,” concluded the forum.
Dangote’s refinery, inaugurated in 2023, is the largest refinery of single African trains and should significantly reduce dependence on Nigeria on imported oil products.
