AfriPulse
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded the reinstatement of 800 workers sacked by the management of Dangote Petrochemical Refinery over a unionisation dispute.
The TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, made the call on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He insisted that the refinery’s action was a violation of the constitutional rights of its employees.
Toro said: “The dismissal of over 800 workers for joining PENGASSAN is unacceptable. Unionisation is a right. We demand their immediate reinstatement, followed by a public apology from the refinery management with assurances that such victimisation will not happen again.”
His remarks followed an industrial action declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which on Monday paralysed operations in major oil and gas regulatory institutions.
READ ALSO: Lizzy Anjorin dismisses Iyabo Ojo’s threat of lawsuit, blames colleague for feud
The strike followed the union’s resolution accusing the refinery of flouting Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers for exercising their right to freedom of association.
Dangote Refinery, however, rejected claims of mass dismissal and alleged sabotage by some workers.
But Toro countered and accused the management of avoiding the central issue of workers’ rights while reneging on an earlier agreement not to victimise staff.
The TUC secretary also condemned what he described as preferential treatment of Indian expatriates over Nigerian employees, calling it “economic oppression and modern-day slavery.”
Toro stressed that both TUC and PENGASSAN participated in a conciliatory meeting with the Ministry of Labour on September 8, but said the refinery failed to uphold its commitments.
He warned that organised labour would resist any attempt to stifle workers’ rights, noting that unions had previously supported the refinery during its formative challenges.
“Dangote enjoys state support and goodwill but must also respect the rights of Nigerian workers. We are ready to compromise in the interest of the nation, but we will not allow slave labour in this country,” he added.
Source: RipplesNigeria | Read the Full Story…
