By Muhammad Mamman
Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Tinubu to issue an executive order to end the standoff between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, the Borno South lawmaker said he would not object if the president “acted like a dictator” to resolve the crisis sparked by the alleged dismissal of 800 refinery workers.
“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,” Ndume said.
PENGASSAN had on Saturday directed its members nationwide to strike, accusing Dangote Refinery of sacking workers for joining the union. The association described the move as a breach of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution and international conventions on workers’ rights.
But Ndume dismissed the action, accusing the union of pursuing private interests. He also criticised Nigeria’s culture of corruption and celebration of dubious wealth, lamenting the decline in public accountability.
“When we were growing up, leaders were under scrutiny. People went to prison for failing to account for local taxes. Today, corruption has been legitimised and even celebrated, with people glorified after conviction,” he said.
