Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that the interests of Nigeria must come before those of any trade union, emphasizing the need for patriotism and restraint amid the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of the Dangote Refinery.
Shettima made the statement on Monday in Abuja at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31), themed “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030.”
The Vice President stressed that no organization, no matter how powerful, should hold the nation to ransom over industrial disputes.
“Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,” Shettima said. “We must rise above our personal or sectional interests to safeguard our national assets and protect our economic future.”
He described the Dangote Refinery as a national treasure that must be defended “at all cost,” adding that Nigeria’s treatment of its foremost investor, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will shape how the international community perceives the country’s business climate.
“This is a man who could have chosen to invest anywhere in the world, but he chose Nigeria. We have a moral duty to jealously protect, promote, and preserve this symbol of our economic independence,” Shettima said.
He urged labor unions to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue rather than confrontation, warning that strikes and disruptions could damage the nation’s growing economic confidence.
The ongoing dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery reportedly centers on issues of staff unionization, employment conditions, and operational modalities at the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility in Lagos—Africa’s largest refinery.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, said Nigeria’s handling of local investors sends a strong signal to foreign investors about the country’s economic stability and policy direction.
He noted that inconsistent policies, inflationary pressures, and high debt burdens have dampened investor confidence, stressing that reforms must be focused on ensuring predictability and transparency in the business environment.
“Our economic survival depends on building trust and creating a fair system where both local and foreign investors feel secure,” Yusuf said.
The NES31 summit brought together top government officials, industry leaders, and development partners to discuss strategies for driving Nigeria’s economic transformation and achieving inclusive prosperity by 2030.
Shettima’s remarks underscore the Tinubu administration’s position that national stability, investor confidence, and economic progress must take precedence over labor disputes and political posturing.